Andrew Lincoln Previews 'The Walking Dead' Beyond Episode 100

While the cast and crew of The Walking Dead are looking back at 100 episodes, Andrew Lincoln is looking ahead.

Speaking to ComicBook.com in an exclusive interview, the actor who has now played the apocalypse's leader Rick Grimes for more than eight years opened up about the upcoming episodes, all of which follow the 100th overall.

"It's the biggest by far is all I'm saying," Lincoln said. "We are a throwing everything... Everything is going into this one, my friend. It's a thrill ride. This is such a thrill ride."

For Lincoln, it is impossible to look ahead without looking back. The humble actor is tremendously excited for what the future holds but is quick to acknowledge the many people who helped launch The Walking Dead and maintain the phenomenon it has become.

"I think this is a very exciting and challenging season," Lincoln said. "It's been very nice. It's so very much like a war. Just the logistics of it, the scale of it, the ambition of it, the content, the action... All of these qualities have felt like... And I just want to pay my enormous respects to the crew, who it's been enormously challenging and emotionally and physically demanding season, and these guys are the glue that keeps this show together moving forward. I think that this is one of, for me, of my journey, one of the most exciting, challenging, emotionally complicated seasons for a long time."

Eight years later, and Lincoln is still excited to go to work everyday. "I've been driving to work with butterflies because I've got to do some serious work and that's always exciting and nerve-racking in equal parts," Lincoln said. "To have eight years of a show and still feel like that is a testament to the quality of the story and the care and passion of the people making it."

The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9 pm ET on AMC. For complete coverage and insider info all season long, follow @BrandonDavisBD on Twitter.