The Walking Dead showrunner Angela Kang has warned fans to not expect a comics accurate ending to the long-running AMC drama series.
In an interview with Deadline, Kang explained that the final batch of episodes will surprise longtime fans of the franchise. "I think in our storytelling for this, that the story’s going to unfold and unroll, and you know, there’s going to be some twists and turns," she said. "What I hope the audience gets from this is even if they think they know exactly where they think the story’s going, maybe it takes some turns that they’re not expecting."
The eleventh and final season of The Walking Dead premiered on August 22, 2021, loosely adapting issues #175 to 193 of the eponymous comic book series. "I hope that it’s still satisfying and surprising emotionally, but we don’t want people to know exactly what we’re planning this early in the eight, because all eight episodes still have to matter," Kang added. "I just hope people will watch it, and I hope that they’ll finish out these final eight with us."
The Walking Dead Universe Is Expanding
While The Walking Dead may be coming to a close in 2022, the franchise will continue on AMC through multiple spinoffs that are currently in various stages of development. The furthest along, The Walking Dead: Dead City, will chart the exploits of Negan Smith (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Maggie Greene (Lauren Cohan) as they try to survive in zombie-infested Manhattan. The other two are a Daryl Dixon-focused spinoff series starring Norman Reedus and an untitled Rick & Michonne limited series starring Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira. Along with a new season of Fear the Walking Dead, all the spinoffs are slated to air in 2023. Tales of the Walking Dead, an episodic anthology series that is based on new and existing characters within The Walking Dead Universe, concluded its first season in September and is awaiting a Season 2 renewal from AMC.
The Walking Dead features a large ensemble cast that is headlined by Reedus, Cohan, Morgan, Melissa McBride, Christian Serratos, Josh McDermitt, Seth Gilliam, Ross Marquand, Khary Payton, Cooper Andrews and Callan McAuliffe. The series also stars Eleanor Matsuura, Lauren Ridloff, Cailey Fleming, Nadia Hilker, Cassady McClincy, Angel Theory, Paola Lázaro, Michael James Shaw, Josh Hamilton, Laila Robins, Lynn Collins and Margot Bingham.
The first episode of The Walking Dead Season 11C, "Lockdown," debuted on AMC on October 2. The series finale, "Rest in Peace," will air on November 20.
Source: Deadline