AMC's The Walking Dead is one of the biggest TV shows of the past 25 years. There is simply no disputing that, as the series made one heck of an impact in its prime, dominating the television scene throughout the 2010s in a way that only Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad could contend with. Yes, what a peak era of television we were living in!
One of the primary reasons for The Walking Dead's success was the performance from its frontman Andrew Lincoln, who brought the legendary comic book character of Rick Grimes to life with such grit, nuance, and passion that it was impossible not to be compelled by each and every thing that he did on-screen. And viewers tuned in in their millions to see Rick contend with the dangers of the undead world and protect his loved ones from any threat that dared to cross their paths. As far as formidable protagonists go, you won't find a better one than him.
However, Lincoln left the show in its ninth season as part of a shocking storyline to write Rick off the series, leaving the door open for an eventual return (which ultimately happened in its own spinoff miniseries). But why did the star of one of the biggest shows on television decide it was time to put down his sheriff's hat?
Andrew Lincoln wanted to be closer to his family (and back home in the UK)
Andrew Lincoln left The Walking Dead to be closer to his family, which had been difficult for him to achieve while working on the show due to its demanding production schedule, which meant that he had to spend large portions of the year away from home. The actor is from the UK and his two young children live back in England, so he made the decision to step away from playing Rick Grimes to be there for them more as they grew up. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly back in 2018 ahead of his departure, he said:
"I have two young children, and I live in a different country, and they become less portable as they get older. It was that simple. It was time for me to come home."
Lincoln has since opened up about it even more so, revealing that the growth of the show meant increased episode counts, which meant more time away from his family and a lot longer away from the UK. The first season of the series had just six episodes, but as its popularity skyrocketed, the annual count was increased to 16, resulting in a lot more time spent in Georgia where it was filmed and a lot less time spent at home.
He told The Times in a more recent interview about the impact that it had on his life, which likely influenced his decision to leave nine seasons in.
"It started at only four and a half months [per year] and then, as the show grew, it turned into eight months. And then I'd have press on top of that, so I only spent two and a half months back in the UK. The kids went to school in America [as well] - we just kept them in school. They didn't know that there were summer holidays".
It's not surprising that the star felt the need to spend more time with his family considering how much commitment The Walking Dead's expanded seasons required. Although a new storytelling device was introduced from season 4 onwards that would have certain episodes only focus on specific characters (to give some of the stars a bit more time off), it wouldn't have allowed him to move back to the UK as Rick would inevitably return after an episode or two.
The character was ultimately written out of the show early on in season 9. Having defeated Negan and achieved his longtime goal of creating a safe space for his family and friends - one full of peace - his arc had seemingly come to an end. And when an army of walkers made their way across a very unstable bridge near camp, Rick decided to blow up the bridge, seemingly dying in the process. However, it was revealed that he had actually been taken by the Civic Republic Military to be a part of their community, leaving the door open for an eventual comeback.
It took some time, but Lincoln and other members of his TWD family would eventually walk through that open door.
Rick Grimes eventually returned in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live spinoff
While Andrew Lincoln was originally expected to return to the TWD Universe in a trilogy of Rick Grimes movies, the logistics of that plan didn't work out (partially due to the pandemic and even the declining popularity of the franchise). However, with The Walking Dead ending after 11 seasons, the franchise's creatives decided to launch new spinoffs focusing on specific characters from the original show. One of those would end up being The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live - a six-part miniseries starring Lincoln and his longtime TWD co-star Danai Gurira in a love story that would reunite Rick and Michonne.
The pair made a cameo appearance in the series finale of The Walking Dead to set up and tease their own spinoff, which eventually followed in early 2024. It received critical acclaim, with praise being directed to the performances of Lincoln and Gurira, the resolution of the characters' long-standing arc, and the high-stakes that ran throughout. Between its exploration of the Rick and Michonne love story to the satisfying conclusion it provided to both their arcs and the CRM storyline, it was well worth the wait.
Knowing what we know about Lincoln's decision to leave The Walking Dead nine seasons in, it's understandable that he found the time to return for the spinoff. After all, a six episode miniseries is different than filming 10 - 16 episodes all year round on an annual basis. And, although the characters' stories have been wrapped up for now, Lincoln is still open to the idea of bringing Rick back one more time, telling Entertainment Weekly that he would "never say never":
"That was thrilling that we did episodes and sequences that I'm intensely proud of and we haven't seen before. If that were to come out of Gimple's or Danai's brain, and it was irresistible, then I think that there's infinite chance that it might happen again. But I don't know when."
Considering the response to The Ones Who Live and the fact that fans are still longing to see Rick reunited with Daryl, Carol, Maggie, and even his former archenemy Negan, it's safe to say that at least one more appearance from Lincoln's leading man would be the icing on the TWD Universe's cake.