Do you know what's so great about The Walking Dead fandom? No matter how much time passes, fans remain fiercely loyal, following the show’s cast across every new project they take on. Even years after the original series finale, the fandom remains one of the most dedicated in television history.
When Norman Reedus takes on a new role, fans flock to see him. When Andrew Lincoln or Steven Yeun appear in films, limited series, or even voice roles, audiences can’t help but follow. It's not even just the main cast members, either. Supporting actors from the zombie show have been embraced with the same enthusiasm.
And now, one of the most beloved figures from the series is back in the spotlight. Back in January 2025, news broke that Danai Gurira had joined the cast of a new Apple TV movie titled Matchbox: The Movie. Now, this upcoming film has an official release date!
Matchbox: The Movie is set for an October 2026 release on Apple TV
Walking Dead fans know Danai Gurira best for her iconic role as Michonne, the fearless and resourceful warrior who became a fan favorite over the course of the series. We watched her portray Michonne from seasons 3 through 10 before she exited the zombie show in the thirteenth episode of the tenth season to pursue other interests. She would reprise her Michonne role briefly in the series finale, and then return in the spinoff, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live.
We haven't seen Gurira in any other project related to The Walking Dead universe since then, but we have still been eagerly following her career moves. Matchbox: The Movie is one of her newest projects that's set to be released on Apple TV this year. The official release date is Friday, Oct. 9, 2026.
Matchbox: The Movie is directed by Sam Hargrave, known for his work on high-octane action films, and the script is written by David Coggeshall. Based on the classic Matchbox toy cars from Mattel, the movie promises a thrilling, globe-trotting adventure. Gurira stars alongside a star-studded ensemble that includes John Cena, Jessica Biel, Sam Richardson, Teyonah Parris, Arturo Castro, Corey Stoll, Bill Camp, and Golshifteh Farahani.
The story follows a group of lifelong friends whose lives are turned upside down when Cena’s character, an undercover CIA agent and their long-absent former leader, returns to their small town and inadvertently drags them into an international mission to save the world. Gurira plays a character named Helen. However, her character details remain under wraps. It'll be interesting to see how Gurira’s Helen fits into the high-stakes adventure. We're also excited to see her exercise her acting chops more!
Apple TV will likely release the trailer for Matchbox: The Movie closer to its release date, so that should be exciting. Besides this action-packed film, Gurira has a couple of other projects that fans can look forward to seeing this year. There's Invincible season 4 and Here Comes the Flood. She also stars in the upcoming romantic heist movie The Thomas Crown Affair, which is set to be released on March 5, 2027.
Stay tuned to Undead Walking for more coverage on what The Walking Dead cast is up to these days!