AMC’s The Walking Dead will be saying goodbye to another of its original cast members in the upcoming ninth season, with leading man Andrew Lincoln set to leave the zombie drama series. Collider first reported the news, which was then corroborated by EW.
The site reports that Lincoln’s Rick Grimes will only appear in half-a-dozen episodes of the new season before making his exit. Apparently AMC is looking to fill the void by offering a substantial package to Norman Reedus to have Daryl Dixon take over as the show’s leading man.
Lincoln may not be the only major departure this year, as Lauren Cohen is also only contracted for six episodes as Maggie Rhee, and her future on the show is uncertain given her commitments to ABC’s new drama Whiskey Cavalier.
The Walking Dead has been bleeding viewers over the past couple of years, with the most recent eighth season dropping to season one numbers in terms of ratings, and it’s unlikely that the departure of two of its biggest stars is going to help things moving forward. However, with a new showrunner on board in Angela Kang, perhaps a major overhaul can breathe some new life into the series.
What are your thoughts on Andrew Lincoln’s departure? Can the show survive without Rick Grimes? Let us know what you make of the situation in the comments below…
