This year has been a weird year for The Walking Dead franchise. Heading into the year, we thought that we were going to get two new seasons of Walking Dead shows. Instead, we only got a season of Dead City, which still hasn't been renewed for season 4, and Daryl Dixon was pushed to February 2027.
While it's been a bit of a downer, we have seen a big year for a few stars of The Walking Dead on Netflix. Jon Bernthal starred in two of the biggest movies of the year in Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey. Before that, though, he starred in a big Netflix show.
Then, we have Steven Yeun, who has been on a legendary run after leaving The Walking Dead. He's starred in two Netflix movies this year. If you're into thrillers, you are definitely in luck.
Let's talk about the three biggest Netflix projects of 2026 from former stars of The Walking Dead!
His and Hers
His and Hers was actually the first big Netflix show of 2026. Jon Bernthal stars in the Netflix series based on Alice Feeney's thriller of the same name. It was released on Jan. 8, 2026, and for a time, it was one of the most popular Netflix shows of all time. I Will Find You bumped the series from the list this summer, but it's still well worth your time!
In the series, Bernthal plays Detective Jack Harper, who is trying to solve a murder in a small town in Georgia. Unfortunately, there's a reporter, Anna, played by Tessa Thompson, who is trying to revive her career. Getting scoops on the murder and staying one step ahead of the police is her goal.
His and Hers is an absolutely bonkers mystery. I never saw where this show was headed. If you like Bernthal, you're definitely in for a treat with this Netflix series.
Bernthal has also starred in Netflix's The Punisher, Daredevil, and The Unforgivable.
The Rip
Who would have thought that the two biggest Netflix releases of January would be the ones starring the actors who were part of the two most devastating deaths in the history of The Walking Dead? Not me, but that's exactly what happened.
The Rip starring Steven Yeun premiered on Netflix just one week after His and Hers premiered, and it's one of the most popular Netflix movies of 2026. In the film, Yeun stars as Detective Mike Ro is part of a tactical team led by Dane Dumars and J.D. Byrne, played by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. When their team finds a huge amount of cash at a stash house, they need to count and move the money before someone comes to collect.
The Rip didn't get great reviews, but it's a good movie. You don't see thrillers like this on Netflix every month, so if you still haven't watched this movie, you definitely need to give it a watch. Real Glenn fans watch everything Steven Yeun does, which is a lot since he left The Walking Dead.
Animals
Speaking of Yeun, we have another movie to recommend to fans of Glenn Rhee and The Walking Dead, and that's Animals, which just premiered on Netflix in October. Most Walking Dead fans probably haven't tuned in for this one yet, but it's definitely worth a watch if you love thrillers.
In Animals, Yeun reunites with Ben Affleck, who also co-wrote and directed the movie. Affleck plays Los Angeles mayoral candidate Mark Kimball, while Yeun stars as his campaigner manager Sam Allison. When Kimball's son is kidnapped on Halloween, the kidnapper demands a steep ransom. Sam tries to help Mark and his wife, Abigail, played by Kerry Washington, get their son back before it's too late.
Animals isn't quite the success that The Rip is, or that His and Hers was, but it's a new thriller to watch on the world's biggest streaming service. It also features some solid performances from its main cast, including Affleck, Yeun, Washington, Gillian Anderson, Adriana Paz, and Luis Gerardo Méndez.
If I hadn't seen any of these Netflix projects starring Walking Dead stars, I would definitely start with His and Hers. It's easily the best of the bunch, but it's also a TV series compared to movies, which is a significantly different time commitment.
If you want a movie instead, The Rip is a much better movie than Animals. They are both worth watching, but Yeun has a better and bigger role in The Rip. Plus, it's Damon and Affleck. That's a no-brainer!
We'll share more news about upcoming movies and shows with Walking Dead stars. Enjoy these Netflix projects while you wait!
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