There’s no event in the world like San Diego Comic-Con for earth-shattering TV and film news – and dropped its own bombshell this weekend.
It was confirmed during the show’s panel that (Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne () would be returning for a six-part spin-off series in 2023.
Rick last appeared in The Walking Dead in 2018, with Michonne’s own storyline being left on a major cliff-hanger soon afterwards.
And executive producer Scott M. Gimple has now explained the decision to bring Rick and Michonne back to the Walking Dead world.
‘We’re doing the show for AMC+. [There will be] six episodes, an epic love story, that’s about it’, he told the press.
The President of Entertainment for AMC, Dan McDermott, then provided fans with further information about what to expect from the series.
‘What a great surprise for the fans at this final Comic-Con for the series that launched this universe and made television history.’
He continued: ‘We couldn’t be more excited for a truly epic series finale later this year and to see Andy and Danai return in a new series they helped create.
‘[It will be] one of three new series coming in 2023 that continue the stories of so many iconic and fan-favourite The Walking Dead characters.’
Rick was last seen at the end of season nine, badly injured and being taken away in a helicopter by the Civic Republic Military, the series police and military organisation.
Michonne, on the other hand, left the show during season 10, to search for Rick and to hopefully discover his whereabouts.
Fans will now be left to wait and wonder about the fate of both characters while the upcoming series, currently untitled, is prepared.
The Walking Dead itself will come to an end in 2022, when its 11th and final season concludes – it has been on the air for 12 years.
On top of the Rick and Michonne show, there are more planned spin-offs from the franchise, which has already seen two spin-off series succeed.
Fear the Walking Dead, which began in 2015, has now run for seven seasons, while miniseries The Walking Dead: World Beyond ran for two seasons.
The Walking Dead is available to stream on Disney+ and Amazon Prime.
