AMC recently provided fans with updates on when the Walking Dead universe would return to television. According to the announcement, both Talking Dead and the network's flagship show are coming back towards the end of February, and the back half of Fear The Walking Dead Season 6 will debut sometime in the Spring. That could be around April or May, and both sound like possible dates.
As for The Walking Dead's farewell season, it's reportedly going to air at some point in 2021. The Twitter announcement confirmed that Season 11 kicks off later this year, airing throughout 2022. What that means is production will begin within the next few months.
Assuming that does turn out to be the case, TWD could be bringing back its' longtime protagonist, Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), sooner than later. He's reprising his role as the titular character in the long-awaited Walking Dead movies, which should begin shooting this year, too. Lincoln mentioned Spring 2021 as a possible start date when speaking to ABC. That may be a sign the network wants to start principal photography shortly.
Will Lincoln Be On Set For Both The Movies And Season 11?
The other takeaway from Lincoln's feature films beginning soon is the actor may be on set while The Walking Dead Season 11 is shooting. And from a financial standpoint, AMC will want to get their money's worth out of Lincoln. In turn, the Walking Dead alum may be making his comeback sooner than we think.
Even without official confirmation, Lincoln will be back alongside his friends/castmates in no time. He probably won't show up in the first acts of Season 11. But there is a good chance he'll return when the series nears its' end. Rick Grimes was essential in creating the Walking Dead universe, and the only fitting way to wrap the story up is by having Lincoln return in some capacity.
Some fans may disagree or dismiss the idea of Lincoln returning because he's contracted for three movies, and there's this belief that Lincoln's character will be stuck on adventures away from his old friends. Of course, they're neglecting to remember something very crucial.
Adventures Elsewhere
While AMC confirmed the three-movie deal is still happening, that doesn't necessarily mean they'll all be about Rick Grimes' battles with CRM. The first movie will undoubtedly focus on that storyline, but the following entries could be entirely different. If the feature film and Season 11 put the CRM saga to bed, then the other two movies might focus on adventures elsewhere, some of which may consist of Rick and company dealing with the aftermath left in CRM's wake.
Depending on how much chaos the Civil Republic Military wreaks, Alexandria's central survivors may have to go on the road. It wouldn't be ideal, but the fallout works on multiple levels.
For one, the Grimes family is long overdue for a family vacation. They won't find the typical one in the post-apocalyptic landscape, but their search for a life away from conflict would serve as an adequate compromise. At the same time, journeying out can work as a fitting segue to another adventure where they attempt to stop a CRM renegade from resurrecting the fallen paramilitary group.
Secondly, adventures outside of Virginia can reconnect Rick Grimes with Morgan Jones (Lennie James) and his friends in Texas. We can't say with certainty that Morgan will still be alive, but fans would probably pay to see Rick and Morgan pair up again in a movie all about them. Their reunion is also one that fans have been campaigning to see, so AMC probably has some convenient plot armor protecting their TWD alum for the time being.
Whatever happens, filming schedules are lining up perfectly for Lincoln to stop by the central Walking Dead production locations while he's shooting scenes on the upcoming movies. Now, audiences should keep expectations of seeing Rick back in the Season 11 premiere tempered. Of course, if he's spotted all suited-up on the set, then it's safe to say he'll make his return in the first half of The Walking Dead's farewell season.
