“Walking Dead” Producer Talks Rick Grimes Movie And Setting

AMC’s The Walking Dead is one of the longest running genre shows in history, which is heading into it’s eleventh and final season with a super-sized 24-episode run. And while the main show might be wrapping up, that doesn’t mean the zombie adventures are at an end.

In fact, one of the most anticipated Walking Dead projects coming up is the proposed Rick Grimes-centric movie, which is supposed to be the kickoff of a trilogy that will follow the character after his exodus in season 9 when he sacrificed himself to save the group. And while it appeared he died as a result, that actually wasn’t the case and got “rescued” via a helicopter sent by a mysterious organization.

However, this film has been in the works for several years now and there is still very little information surrounding it, other than the creative team is still fine-tuning the script. But that doesn’t mean the movie isn’t still a priority for AMC. In fact, during an interview with ComicBook.com, the original comic writer and Walking Dead producer Robert Kirkman, dropped a bit update on the production, stating:

I think being able to focus more on Rick as a character and do more with him is really cool. I think it’s gonna be a very different kind of Walking Dead story, which is really exciting. You know, when you’re doing something like this you have to make sure that it makes sense for it to be a movie. This isn’t just some kind of expansion of what you’re expecting from the show. This is something that’s gonna be very different but it’s gonna be the Rick Grimes that we all know and love. And I’m very excited for people to finally see it when it’s released in 2032.

While Kirkman was a little tongue-in-cheek about a release date, one interesting take away is that the Rick Grimes of the film will be very different than the one fans know and love from the show. Throughout the character’s run on The Walking Dead, he became a hardened leader who was willing to do whatever it took to survive, meager though that existence sometimes proved to be.

But, given the fact that he was airlifted away, one thing that’s clear is that Rick Grimes is heading to a vastly different set of circumstances, and it’s the setting that might prove to be what changes Rick. Simply put, he learned to function in a very rural fashion, with little to no electricity and many of the modern-day conveniences completely gone. It was a hard life, but one he’d come to accept and flourish in.

Now that he’ll likely be inundated in a society still clinging to a sense of past normalcy, including many of the technological advancements that are so prevalent in society, there might be something of a culture shock, with Rick believing these new people are delusional and that they don’t understand how the world of The Walking Dead really works. And it could be this stark change in lifestyle that leads to conflict, as Rick will want to get the resources of his new home back out into the world where it could make a difference between life and death.

The theory holds even more weight given the events that saw Michonne exit the main series, as she found an old iPhone that appeared to be Rick’s, leading her to realize that he hadn’t died and was out there somewhere. This is noteworthy because a cell phone is nothing the former Walking Dead leader ever had before, and it showcases the kind of amenities that he’s surrounded with.

Whatever the case, it’s almost certain that Rick’s new circumstances are going to play a pivotal role in his story going forward. Whether this is the central conflict of the movie or simply motivation for Grimes is still up for debate. And while the movie is still quite a way’s away, perhaps there will be some hints in the new season of The Walking Dead, which is set to debut on AMC on August 22nd.