The Walking Dead universe has had several crossover characters, but none have been as diverse as Anne/Jadis. This character, portrayed by Pollyanna McIntosh, was introduced as the leader of the Scavengers in The Walking Dead series and then crossed over to the spinoff The Walking Dead: World Beyond. She played a vital role in the life of Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) when she saved his life. Will she be featured in the new Rick and Michonne (Danai Gurira) spinoff, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live?
(SEE BELOW FOR AN UPDATE FROM NYCC 2023)
As the leader of the Scavengers, Jadis ran a loyal and resourceful group that appeared to keep to themselves with their motto, ” We take. We don’t bother.” They were also quite selfish and greedy, always looking out for the best deal to get what they needed to survive. She betrays Rick several times to obtain what her group needs for survival. But, in an apocalypse, most leaders would do the same, as survival is the game.
She showed her outstanding leadership skills several times, especially during the battle at Alexandria when she ordered the retreat of her people, saving many of their lives in the process.
The Walking Dead – Jadis (Pollyanna McIntosh)
The end of the Scavengers happens at the hands of the Saviors. Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) sends one of his leaders, Simon (Steven Ogg), to kill one of Jadis’ people and demand an apology, but being Simon, he kills her two leaders and orders the remaining Scavengers to be killed when Jadis tries to retaliate.
This proves to be Jadis’ undoing, and she leaves Jadis behind and becomes Anne. She eventually joined the Alexandria community on Morgan’s (Lennie James) invitation. She became a productive group member after the Saviors war and entered a relationship with Gabriel (Seth Gilliam).
After being accused of murdering a former Savior, Anne decides to leave the community. This is when it is revealed that she has been working with a group called the Civic Republic Military (CRM), the mysterious organization with the helicopters. She confides to Gabriel that she has been trading people for supplies with the CRM for quite some time. When Rick blows up the bridge and is thought to have died, Anne discovers him gravely injured on the river’s edge and uses him as her way of getting the CRM to rescue them both.
This would then lead to Jadis taking yet another name and crossing over to The Walking Dead: World Beyond spinoff series as Warrant Officer Jadis Stokes. This name is interesting as Stokes is Gabriel’s last name.
In World Beyond, Jadis wouldn’t mention him by name, but it was implied that she was talking about Rick. She stated that she traded a man to the CRM to gain entry into the organization, where she serves a vital role.
At Comic-Con 2022, it was announced that Rick and Michonne would be reprising their roles in a spinoff of their own. Fans know the CRM took Rick to parts unknown, and Michonne left in search of him. It has been speculated that the series will give some backstory on both characters and where they have been since we’ve last seen them to the point they become reunited. If that is the case, will we see Jadis again?
When Lincoln first left the series, it was announced Rick would be featured in a trilogy of films. Now, years later, and after significant leadership changes at AMC Networks, the movies have been scraped, and the Rick and Michonne series has replaced them. When the movies were first announced, there were whispers that McIntosh would reprise her role as Jadis in the films. So, could we see her appear in the series? It would be interesting to see her again and how she and Rick made their way to the CRM.
Pollyanna McIntosh posted on Instagram that she would depart Ireland for a new project. It could be a coincidence, but that week, the Rick & Michonne series began filming in New Jersey. Could this spinoff be the new project she is referring to? It will be exciting to find out!
UPDATE: AMC has confirmed McIntosh’s inclusion in the series at NYCC 2023. It will very exciting to see how Jadis fits into this new story.
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live will premiere in 2024, and it will be exciting to learn if Pollyanna McIntosh returns as Jadis and if any other familiar faces will appear.
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