Andrew Lincoln confirms The Walking Dead departure at SDCC

Fans have been waiting for some kind of official confirmation that Andrew Lincoln is leaving The Walking Dead and today he gave it at SDCC.

It’s official, TWDFamily. For months there has been speculation and hope that the rumors and speculation about Andrew Lincoln leaving The Walking Dead were wrong and Rick Grimes would live on forever.

But now it’s official. Andrew Lincoln himself said today at The Walking Dead panel at SDCC that season 9 is his last season on the show but he’ll always be tied to the zombie-killing character many fans love.

Check out the video of Andrew Lincoln addressing the issue as shared on the Twitter account of Skybound’s The Walking Dead:

While fans have had some time to get used to the idea of The Walking Dead without Rick Grimes it still was a blow to hear it officially announced. The Walking Dead will never be the same without Rick Grimes.

But The Walking Dead will go on, and there are still lots of stories left to tell. The world that Rick and Carl Grimes helped built will go on and the other survivors will carry on the legacy that Rick started when he wanted to build a better world for Carl, and later for Judith too.

And even though it is heartbreaking that Andrew Lincoln will be leaving The Walking Dead it’s important for fans to remember the years of sacrifice and hard work that Andrew Lincoln and all the cast members have put into creating this show and making it what is now. The new showrunner Angela Kang will guide the show into a new era, and even though that era will be without Rick Grimes it can still be amazing.

Saying Goodbye

Knowing that the end is coming for Rick Grimes should give fans time to get ready to say goodbye to Rick Grimes and to Andrew Lincoln. It will be difficult and devastating to say goodbye but fans have said goodbye to other beloved characters as well.

Next: TWD season 9 premiere date

This is a time for the fandom to come together, not turn on each other. Let’s pull together, not apart, and honor the spirit of community, loyalty, and family that Rick Grimes has always tried to create. The Walking Dead season 9 premiere will kick off Andrew Lincoln’s last season on The Walking Dead on October 7th.