The zombie apocalypse has claimed many a victim on The Walking Dead and it looks like one of its stars, Andrew Lincoln, may be next on the list. It is being reported that the upcoming ninth season of the show will be his last.
How exactly Lincoln will leave the canvas is still being worked out. He’s one of the leads on the series but reports are saying that he could be gone before season 9 is even over with about a six-episode run for next season. It should also be noted that Norman Reedus, who has also been with the series since the beginning with Lincoln, will be sticking around and is reportedly receiving a $20 million contract.
The loss of Lincoln’s Rick Grimes would be another departure for the show from its comic source material. A similar shift occurred in the February 25 Season 8 midseason return of The Walking Dead earlier this year when the Chandler Riggs’ portrayed Carl Grimes died after being bitten by a walker. In Kirkman’s comics, Carl survives well into the chaos of the infected world as does his father.
Lincoln’s departure follows co-star Lauren Cohan drastically cutting down her participation on the show for a stint on ABC’s midseason replacement spy dramedy Whiskey Cavalier. Cohan was in a contract dispute with The Walking Dead before coming to an agreement that will see her in only about half a dozen episodes.
Perhaps the tide is starting to turn on The Walking Dead. The series once shattered cable records to emerge as the highest rated show on all of television and at one point attracted viewership in excess of 17 million viewers. The Walking Dead has seen a decline in the last year with its April 15 season 8 finale hitting an audience of 7.9 million viewers – great numbers for almost any show but a finale low for The Walking Dead.
There is no exact word as to why Lincoln is leaving but it’s speculated that he simply wants to spend more time with his family who is based in The U.K. (The Walking Dead films in Georgia).
