Andrew Lincoln starred as Rick Grimes for nine seasons of The Walking Dead before headlining his own spinoff, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, in 2024, and he has now teased his return to the long-running franchise. After waking up from a coma and reuniting with his family in the midst of the zombie apocalypse, former Sheriff’s Deputy Rick Grimes became the Atlanta survivors’ leader in The Walking Dead’s early days. He led the group for years before sacrificing himself in season 9, but this may not be the end for Rick Grimes.
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On an episode of Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg released on September 21, 2025, Kuenssberg interviewed Andrew Lincoln and Alicia Vikander regarding their new stage show, The Lady from the Sea. Kuenssberg also gave Lincoln the chance to open up about his time working in the United States on The Walking Dead, noting that he “just loved it, and [he] loved working out there,” while also teasing his possible return to the franchise. “There’s a conversation happening right now,” Lincoln revealed when asked whether he’d ever go back to The Walking Dead, which all but confirms Rick Grimes’ return.
When Could Rick Grimes Return to The Walking Dead?
The last time we saw Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead franchise, he and Michonne (Danai Gurira) returned to the Commonwealth and reunited with Judith (Cailey Fleming), while Rick also got the chance to meet his son, Rick Jr. (Antony Azor). In-universe, it had been over seven years since Rick Grimes’ was seemingly killed in the bridge explosion in The Walking Dead season 9, episode 5, “What Comes After,” during which time he had been working for the Civic Republic Military. Rick and Michonne’s return in The Ones Who Live set the stage for even more reunions.
Ever since Rick and Michonne returned to the Commonwealth, there has been speculation of them reuniting with their old friends beyond just their children. Some theories have suggested this could happen in a possible The Walking Dead season 12, a final season concluding the show once-and-for-all, while The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon’s fourth and final season could bring Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Carol (Melissa McBride) back to the United States to reunite with Rick. There could also be a second season of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, expanding even more on Rick and Michonne’s story.
There had previously been talks about possible movies focused on Rick Grimes after the bridge, which could still come to fruition with Andrew Lincoln in the driver’s seat. Whatever the case, it would be great to see Lincoln back in his iconic boots as Rick Grimes. Read the full The Walking Dead interview with Laura Kuenssberg below:
Laura Kuenssberg: “You were in America doing The Walking Dead, which, if people haven’t watched it, is one of the biggest TV series ever that has been made, an absolutely massive smash, and I think you did nine seasons?”
Andrew Lincoln: “I did, yeah.”
Kuenssberg: “You seem so excited about what you’re doing in this moment, did you ever think, ‘Oh, actually, why did I do nine? I could have pulled out of Rick Grimes after four years or five years.’”
Lincoln: “I never look back like that, and I just loved it, and I loved working out there, and I have so many dear friends in America, and I believe in America, and it was just a thrilling experience. There were 250 people in Atlanta, Georgia, that I love dearly and felt an enormous responsibility to, you know? I felt like I was CEO of a major corporation, when you’re charging this leviathan through a cultural sort of thing. I was tired when I got home, so it’s been lovely to do just two or three different things that have made me remember why I became an actor again.”
Kuenssberg: “Would you ever go back to it? It was a huge part of your life.”
Lincoln: “To the show? Yeah, well, there’s a conversation happening right now, but I’m really enjoying working with [Alicia Vikander] and this brilliant cast, and it’s lovely to sort of shake it up and do different things.”
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Image Courtesy of Marvel Comics
