The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live aired its first episode last night and it marks the return of Rick Grimes and Michonne on television for the first time in years.
Chief Content Officer Scott Gimple, who was also involved in producing the series, expressed his excitement that the wait is finally over. Initially conceived as three films that evolved into a mini-series, Gimple shared his relief at no longer fielding or dodging questions about Rick Grimes that have persisted over the past few years.
“I am relieved,” said Gimple. “I think Andy is much [more] relieved so that people will stop asking him on the street because that’s all he gets over the last five years or so.”
Gimple said the decision to create “The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live” was influenced by a combination of factors, including the ongoing pandemic, shifts in the media landscape, and the passage of time. This six-episode series was shaped by the evolving methods of television production and the availability of key talent, such as Danai Gurira.
These elements culminated in the development of the project, which ultimately resulted in a compelling and cohesive story. Gimple also hopes to bring back all the characters in each current spinoff into a big project.
“I definitely have things in the direction that we could do that and I really want to do that and we’ll see what happens,” said Gimple.
Besides Scott Gimple, AMC’s Executive Producer Denise Huth also feels relieved as she discusses The Walking Dead on The Ones Who Live from its beginnings to its current state. Huth emphasizes the theme of transformation, despite adversity, in the post-apocalyptic world, as she herself has been asked about Rick Grimes in recent years. In spite of the challenges posed by the end of the world, Huth observes that the characters have adapted and grown, often finding themselves in better situations than they were before the apocalypse, despite the challenges posed by the end of the world. As Rick Grimes and Michonne navigate the complexities of this new reality, Huth expresses her excitement at seeing their development.
“I was connected to Rick and in being with him and I wanted to follow his journey so to see it come full circle and see where he ended up because as a fan I kept asking where is he like why is he not back why, you know, he is Rick Grimes.”