‘Walking Dead’ Creator Robert Kirkman Reveals Plans for Rick Grimes in Season 9

Although AMC and its big fishes remain tight-lipped about Andrew Lincoln’s impending exit from The Walking Dead series, there’s no denying that fans will undoubtedly be devastated once that finally happens. It’s been reported that Lincoln, who plays Rick Grimes and currently the show’s lead, will leave after season 9. While this proves to be apparent, new TWD showrunner Angela Kang seemed to have failed (on purpose) to address the rumor.

In an interview with IMDb’s Kevin Smith, however, Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman teased fans about what to expect for his panels this weekend at the San Diego Comic-Con as well as plans for Rick’s future in the TV show. When asked about Lincoln’s departure, Kirkman awkwardly tried to play it cool, as if the matter didn’t exist. He praised Lincoln for sticking it through nine years of toiling under the hot Georgia weather while being away from his family in England. That’s when Kirkman gave fans what to expect for Rick in The Walking Dead Season 9.

“He [Lincoln] cares about the fans; he cares about the show deeply. He wants to do something special on the way out,” Kirkman said. “We’ve got something amazing planned. Anybody who’s been a fan of his journey, who loves Rick Grimes, who loves his role on The Walking Dead—you’re gonna want to see what we do.” Now, this seems to subtly confirm that Lincoln is indeed leaving the show, so it’s definitely interesting what Kirkman and Kang have planned to do for Rick’s “special” send-off.

In the meantime, we can expect to see Lincoln in six more episodes for The Walking Dead Season 9 once it premieres this fall.