@lance_paul
THE WALKING DEAD / FEAR THE WALKING DEAD (Friday – Hall H) – Fans of The Walking Dead in Hall H — yes, there are still a rabid amount! — were given a great show full of cast members and huge news on the current series’ and where the future of TWD is heading. The first three topics covered were: the Rick Grimes movie, the end of the comic book, and the departure of a major star.
The first of these addressed was franchise writer Robert Kirkman ending The Walking Dead comic out of the blue a few weeks back.
“Are there any tomatoes coming my way?” asked Kirkman, when the issue was brought up. He explained that the comic—from Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard—is very special to him but it was always Rick and Carl’s story. This was the natural conclusion to the comic. But the show isn’t just that anymore. It’s the world’s story and “anyone concerned that because the comic wrapped up that way that season 10 will spontaneously end on episode four, that’s not going to happen. There’s a lot more more story to tell.”
Kirkman even said that he’ll be working with the showrunners to potentially explore strands from the comic that maybe didn’t get explored in enough detail.
The second issue was the news of ultra fan favorite Danai Gurira leaving the show. “I can confirm that this is the last season I will be on this amazing TV show as Michonne,” she said through tears. “This has been one of the purest joys of my life to play this role and to be among these people and those that aren’t here and you [the fans]. I’m thankful in ways I can’t express…My heart does not leave in any shape or form.
“The TWD family is forever…It was a very difficult decision. It’s not connected to my heart; it was about my calling in a sense and other things I feel called to. I’m filled with a lot of pain and gratitude. I love you guys. I love this show. Thank you so much.” At this point, not surprisingly, Hall H broke into a standing ovation for the actress.
Showrunner Angela Kang said Michonne’s importance to the show cannot be overstated, and that she and the other writers take the responsibility of ending the character very seriously. Finally, at the end of a mostly jovial panel, the lights went down on a short teaser trailer. A helicopter was seen flying into a city skyline and then the words The Walking Dead came on the screen. They were followed by “Rick Grimes Returns. Only in theaters.” So, yes, the rumored Rick movies will be theatrical.
THE WALKING DEAD
The Walking Dead Season 10 trailer was unveiled during the show’s big San Diego Comic Con 2019 panel alongside a release date. Promising an escalation of the war between the Whisperers and the survivors’ group, led by Michonne and Daryl, the 4-minute clip (which you can watch just below) has us convinced that TWD is on an upward tick after the polarizing success of The Walking Dead Season 9. But nobody’s safe with Alpha and Beta lurking at the borders – and Carol could be next on the hitlist.
Michonne (who kisses Ezekiel and wields Lucille!), of course, features heavily in The Walking Dead S010 SDCC trailer – but that might not necessarily be a good thing for fans of the sword-wielding character. Gurira is leaving after this season, and the first season 10 image released earlier this week showed her in grave danger. Is The Walking Dead going to break our hearts all over again?
There’s also a confirmed Walking Dead Season 10 release date to mark in your diaries. We already know the show would shuffle back onto our screens in October, but now we have an exact date: October 6. A special look ahead to the upcoming season will premiere on August 11.
The Walking Dead season 10 premieres on Sunday, October 6.
MORE WALKING DEAD
With The Walking Dead finding new life after Rick’s death and Fear the Walking Dead carving out a deeper understanding of its parallel cast of characters, the world of The Walking Dead is still finding room to expand. A third series, focused on a new cast of younger characters, was announced in April and, at the franchise’s SDCC 2019 panel, the creatives running point on the mythology shared more about what to expect.
The Walking Dead‘s chief content officer Scott Gimple took the stage at SDCC to reveal how the series, which has yet to be titled, would click into the canon of The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead, which has occasionally established other civilizations scattered across North America.
The characters at the center of the new series will be young adults who only know a life amongst walkers, and who grew up “behind walls.” Gimple says they knew a life with comfort and safety. “They know what walkers are, they know how to kill them, but they’ve never done it.”
The thrust of the series finds the children of zombie privilege leaving home for the first time. “We’re going to see some of these kids become heroes, and some becomes villains,” Gimple teased. Fans of The Walking Dead universe will learn more on July 29, when AMC will drop a bigger preview of the new world.
“Fear the Walking Dead has been renewed for a Season 6,” showrunner Scott Gimple revealed during the Friday panel. 4/5 Zombies Agree.
-Lance Paul