Are the Rick Grimes Walking Dead movies still happening? Everything we know

It’s been a long wait for fans (Picture: Gene Page/AMC)

The Walking Dead fans have been waiting a long, long time for the Rick Grime spin-off film.

The movies were first announced back in 2018 when Andrew Lincoln quit the show after season nine, but there’s still no word on production getting underway.

Of course, a lot of that can be attributed to the whole global pandemic, but fans are still wondering if the big screen spin-off will ever see the light of day.

Although there’s been nothing concrete, there’s still plenty of reasons to be cautiously optimistic about all this.

There are signs of movement behind the scenes, even if filming hasn’t quite started yet.

Creator Rick Kirkham recently insisted that not only are the films definitely on the way, but the Grimes spin-off will be ‘worth the wait’.

‘I can’t wait until we’re filming this thing and then this thing’s coming out, it’s gonna be awesome,’ he teased. ‘Everybody’s working very hard to make this thing as good as it can be. All I will say: we don’t want a bad Rick Grimes movie.’

He added: ‘And when it finally comes out, when we’re showing trailers and stuff, you’ll see. You’ll be like, “That’s exactly what we wanted. I’m so glad they waited.” ‘

Now, there’s still no official word on when production is going to get underway, with director Greg Nicotero suggesting last month that getting season 11 in the bag is the next big step.

‘I wish I knew, and I wish I could say. I’ve read a variety of drafts of the scripts over the last few months. They’re really making sure that they get it right,’ he said, so at least we knows scripts are being worked on.

‘I don’t know, because I’m always in my head going, ‘OK, so Walking Dead is wrapping up [in season 11], but now they’re talking about all these spin-offs and all these movies and all this and all that.’

Fans are still looking out for updates (Picture: AMC)

And while Covid itself has had a fair impact on production for films and movies across the board, although executive producer Gale Anne Hurd suggested there are more creative factors at play.

‘When the series itself has such a large scope, you have to make sure that the scope of the film matches the demands of a theatrical audience,’ she told Variety.

She noted that the franchise also needs to continue ‘with the nuanced characters that people come to expect from the TV series’, and added: ‘That’s why [it’s taking a long time.’

Does Rick return to The Walking Dead in season 11?

Could Andrew Lincoln be back even sooner? (Picture: Gene Page/AMC)

There’s still a chance – especially after Lincoln revealed early this year has would ‘never say never’ to a return for the final season, which is halfway through filming and set to finish production by the end of 2021 or early 2022.

And showrunner Angela Kang insisted she couldn’t answer whether or not he returns, which seems encouraging.

The Walking Dead season 11 UK release date: When is it on Disney+?

Every season is now available on Star via the Disney+ platform, and the first episode has dropped today (August 23) will episodes coming weekly as they air in the US.

More: The Walking Dead

How many Rick Grimes Walking Dead movies will there be?

There are set to be three movies, with the first Rick Grimes film meant as the start of a trilogy.

Former showrunner Scott M. Gimple – who is now chief content officer for The Walking Dead – previously admitted ‘there’s flexibility’ to the exact number of films, and he confirmed ‘the story of Rick will go on’.

He added that the movies, which will be full feature length projects, will each be a ‘large, big scope movie that will feel like a major motion picture’.

The Walking Dead is available to stream on Disney+.

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