If somebody had told you back in 2010 that the Walking Dead franchise would still be running on AMC in 2026, you probably wouldn't have believed them. While there was no disputing The Walking Dead's immediate popularity right out of the gate, regular franchises were still becoming a thing back then (the Marvel Cinematic Universe, for example, had only given us three films at that point) and we wouldn't know then just how popular the series would become as it went on.
But here we are 16 years later and, four years after the original show has concluded, the TWD Universe is still going strong. Rick Grimes and Michonne made their long-awaited return in 2024 to wrap up their love story in spinoff The Ones Who Live, while fellow spinoffs Daryl Dixon and Dead City are continuing to entertain fans on an annual basis. Although the former is ending this year with its fourth and final season, it appears thatthe latter may not be wrapping up in the immediate future
Now, we have gotten an update on the future of the franchise itself, and it seems that the big plan for the TWD Universe is still very much intact.
Scott Gimple confirms hopes to make Walking Dead reunion crossover
AMCs Chief Content Officer of The Walking Dead Universe, Scott M. Gimple, recently sat down with Brandon Davis to discuss the legendary franchise. In a rare 1 hour and 25 minute conversation as part of The Brandon Davis Show, Gimple reflected on the highs and lows of the original series, the TWD Universe's incredible run, and what the future might hold for it. And then, Davis asked him the question all fans have been hoping to hear - and he delivered an announcement that confirms hopes are still high.
When asked about whether there is still a hope that the long-rumored Walking Dead crossover season - one that might feature the likes of Rick, Daryl, and more TWD favorites - could still happen, Gimple announced that there is "absolutely still a hope", adding:
"Absolutely, still a hope. I mean, it's very challenging for a variety of reasons, which have everything to do again with 2026 production. But things change very quickly, and I've drawn up all sorts of garden-of-forking-paths kind of plans."
This is a game-changer of an announcement because it confirms that all of those long-running theories, rumors, and reports about a potential TWD crossover reunion were true. Ever since The Walking Dead ended in 2022 and the franchise diverged into multiple spinoffs, separating the beloved characters for new standalone adventures, there were rumors of one last big crossover that would bring it all back together.
As for when it might happen, it's still probably quite some time away, Gimple thinks. The good news is that he is sure they will "eventually get there" as they have more than enought ideas to make it happen.
"I would hope… it might be a minute. It might be tomorrow. I might be off at the retirement home. But I think… I think we'll eventually get there, and I think there's enough stuff to handle, source material, emotional, plot-wise, everything, that we could do something brilliant."
Needless to say, those are the most reassuring comments fans have had about this rumored crossover in some time. With The Ones Who Live off the air, Daryl Dixon's conclusion coming this fall, and the future of Dead City unclear right now, fans needed reassurance about the future of the franchise - and perhaps the best thing about this unexpected announcement from Gimple is that it confirms that there still is one.
This reunion series has been a long time coming but it will be worth the wait
While the idea of an Avengers: Endgame-style crossover finale was always discussed by fans of the TWD Universe, it really came to the forefront a few years ago. After it was revealed that the Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira spinoff, The Ones Who Live, was actually just a one-season miniseries as it raised questions about whether we would ever see Rick and Michonne again. Lincoln and Gurira sounded like they were keeping the doors open for a future project down the line while also confirming that this specific spinoff was over. And now, with Daryl Dixon ending, it sounds like Daryl and Carol will be in a similar situation.
While Gimple has addressed the possibility of future Walking Dead spinoffs, and acknowledged fans' desires for a reunion series, he hasn't needed to be as upfront about the future of the franchise until recently because the TWD Universe was still rolling along nicely. Why talk about the future when audiences were still tuning in to Daryl Dixon and Dead City, but with one of those shows ending soon, fans have been longing for those conversations to be had. And the reports have suggested that this is indeed the case.
More recently, a number of insiders began reporting that the crossover was real, with some even going as far as to call it a Walking Dead revival season, essentially functioning as a season 12 of the original series that would be led by Lincoln's Rick Grimes, Gurira's Michonne, Melissa McBride's Carol Peletier, Lauren Cohan's Maggie, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan's Negan. So, essentially one more season of the original series to serve as a collective finale for the characters from The Ones Who Live, Dead City, and Daryl Dixon.
Gimple's candid announcement reinforces that there are indeed plans to make it happen, serving as the most definitive acknowledgement of the long-rumored crossover yet. Considering that the end of the current wave of TWD spinoffs may be approaching, it couldn't have come at a better moment. Not only does it confirm that there are plans to bring Andrew Lincoln's Rick Grimes back at some point down the line - and, most important of all, that his story isn't over - it gives fans hope that the TWD Universe could live on for many more years to come. And that is most definitely a good thing.
Watch the full interview with Gimple here:
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