It was tough once The Walking Dead ended its run. Suddenly, Sundays didn’t feel the same. There were no more shocking deaths to gasp at, no more heroic last-minute saves, and no more endless debates over who would survive the next walker attack. For fans, it felt like a piece of our weekly routine had been ripped away.
But we didn't stay down in the dumps for long. We knew that we wouldn't be seeing the last of the cast anytime soon. They had already started booking new roles, stepping into projects that would prove their talent extends far beyond battling walkers on-screen. While we've enjoyed most of what they've put out so far, we're really looking forward to this year.
2026 is packed with excitement for fans, with six upcoming movies featuring some of our favorite Walking Dead stars. These films give us the perfect chance to follow the actors we’ve loved for years into thrilling new worlds!
Steven Yeun 2026 movies
The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender
Not all of 2026’s most anticipated movies are live‑action blockbusters. One of the year’s standout animated events comes from a franchise with a devoted fanbase just as passionate as The Walking Dead’s: Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Titled The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender, this animated feature continues the story of Aang, years after the events of the original series and before The Legend of Korra. The film follows Aang and his friends as they set out on a thrilling quest to uncover an ancient power that could save his culture from extinction. Steven Yeun voices the role of Zuko.
The voice cast also includes Eric Nam, Dionne Quan, Jessica Matten, Román Zaragoza, Dave Bautista, Taika Waititi, Geraldine Viswanathan, Freida Pinto, and Ke Huy Quan. The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender was originally set for a theatrical run, but it is now slated to premiere exclusively on Paramount+ sometime this year.
Animals
Walking Dead fans, get ready to see Yeun in a role that’s worlds apart from Glenn’s harrowing survival story. In Netflix’s Animals, Yeun joins a high-stakes crime thriller directed by and starring Ben Affleck, alongside a powerhouse ensemble including Gillian Anderson, Kerry Washington, and Ray Fisher.
The plot centers on Milo Bradford, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate, whose young son is suddenly kidnapped. With only hours to act, Bradford and his wife find themselves risking their reputation and morality in the process. Like The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender, Animals doesn't yet have an official release date. All that is known is that it will be released on Netflix sometime in 2026.
Jon Bernthal 2026 movies
The Odyssey
Walking Dead fans will have another reason to celebrate in 2026 with Jon Bernthal starring in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. This epic retelling of Homer’s classic poem takes Bernthal far from the post-apocalyptic world of walkers and into a mythic universe of gods, monsters, and legendary adventure.
The epic fantasy action film stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the Greek king of Ithaca, on his journey back home after the Trojan War. Along the way, he encounters many mythical creatures. Joining Damon in the cast is Bernthal, reportedly playing the role of Menelaus, the Greek king of Sparta.
The ensemble cast also includes other talented actors such as Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Mia Goth, and many others. The Odyssey will hit theaters in the United States on July 17, 2026.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Bernthal swings into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Spider-Man: Brand New Day. It's the thirty-eighth movie in the MCU, and the start of a fresh chapter for our titular hero, Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Sadly, there aren't really any plot details. However, what we do know is that Tom Holland is back to reprise his role as Spider-Man. It's believed that in the movie, Spider-Man will be dedicating his efforts to keeping New York City safe from ordinary, local crimes rather than massive threats.
Bernthal returns to the MCU in this film as well, portraying the role of Frank Castle/Punisher. Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Sadie Sink, Liza Colón-Zayas, Mark Ruffalo, Michael Mando, Tramell Tillman, and Marvin Jones III also make up the cast. You can catch Spider-Man: Brand New Day in theaters starting July 31, 2026.
Danai Gurira 2026 movies
Here Comes the Flood
Danai Gurira is best known for her previous role as the katana-wielding survivor Michonne in The Walking Dead. In 2026, she’s trading the zombie apocalypse for high-stakes crime in Netflix’s Here Comes the Flood. Directed by Fernando Meirelles and written by Simon Kinberg, the film is a stylish heist thriller in which a bank guard, a teller, and a master thief become caught up in a dangerous game of deception and betrayal.
No character details have been revealed yet, nor has an official release date been announced. What we do know is that Gurira is joined by Denzel Washington, Robert Pattinson, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Sean Harris, Moisés Arias, and Justin Kirk in the cast.
Matchbox
Gurira also returns to the small screen this year with the Apple TV action-adventure film Matchbox. Based on the Matchbox toy brand, the movie centers around a group of childhood friends who must unite to prevent a looming global disaster and, in the process, rekindle their friendship. Other than Gurira, the cast consists of John Cena, Jessica Biel, Sam Richardson, Arturo Castro, Teyonah Parris, Randeep Hooda, and Corey Stoll.
Apple TV hasn't announced a release date yet. However, the good news is that we can expect this star-studded film to come out sometime this year.