Why did Michonne leave The Walking Dead series?

Michonne Hawthorne was a vital member of the survivors of The Walking Dead. A character who entered the story during the season 2 midseason finale.  Comic fans were excited to see this character who played an essential role in that story. Her initial introduction was fascinating for many reasons, but one of those reasons is it wasn’t Danai Gurira who played this cloaked figure.

As of the season 2 finale, Gurira had yet to be cast in the role. Viewers saw a stand-in portray Michonne and save Andrea (Laurie Holden). In season 3, she was with Andrea as the pair spent the past eight months surviving together. The two would eventually meet up with the Governor (David Morrisey) and live in Woodbury for a time. Michonne would quickly see how twisted the Governor was and join Rick’s (Andrew Lincoln) group.

Michonne didn’t have an easy time fitting in until she bonded with Carl (Chandler Riggs), who would eventually become her stepson. Throughout the series, Michonne has served many roles, including being Rick’s right-hand woman, which leads to the pair becoming a couple. She would become a mother to Carl and his daughter Judith (Cailey Fleming) and give birth to his son RJ (Antony Azor).

The Walking Dead, why did Michonone leave?

During season 9, Rick makes a brave move to protect his friends and family, which leads them to believe he perished when he blew up a bridge. This scene was introduced to explain Lincoln’s departure from the series.

In season 10, Gurira announced her departure from the series to pursue other projects. This was explained by Michonne’s discovery that Rick didn’t die, and she would go in search of him. Many viewers questioned this act as she left her children behind.

At SDCC 2022, it was announced that Gurira and Lincoln would reprise their roles as Michonne and Rick in a spinoff series focused on their characters. This set the fandom alight with hope as the flagship series is in its final season.

There hasn’t been any news about this story, but Scott M. Gimple did have this stay regarding the upcoming series.

"It’s an epic love story, but it’s an epic and insane love story. These are two people that have been separated for a very long time. They’ve lived whole other existences and they have to find themselves again, let alone each other. And it’s hopefully going to be mind-blowing.”"

It will be wonderful to see Rick and Michonne again and learn what has happened to them since they last appeared on The Walking Dead. 

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