The upcoming spinoff feature film of AMC’s The Walking Dead will be rated R, according to ComicBook. The new film will see the return of fan-favorite character Rick Grimes, portrayed by the returning Andrew Lincoln (Mark, Love Actually). Grimes is gun-slinging sheriff who struggles to do the right thing while protecting his friends and family in a zombie apocalypse. Recently, Lincoln announced that the film would start production in the spring and with an R rating this film will stick true to The Walking Dead’s usual modus operandi and hold nothing back in terms of violence and gore, via ComicBook.
Lincoln is set to star in a trilogy of these spinoff features, according to Chief Content Officer and Producer/Writer Scott Gimple (Writer, Ghost Rider Spirit of Vengeance.) “Scott Gimple announced Lincoln’s return in film trilogy in November 2018, revealed immediately following the actor’s departure from the television series,” Gimple stated as reported by ComicBook. Originally, AMC was planning to debut these films on their network but after striking a deal with Universal Pictures and Skybound Entertainment, yet they decided to bring these projects to the cinema.
Gimple promises an R rated cinematic experience because in his opinion it’s the best way to honor the fans, the cast, and the crew who have spent years of their lives invested into the narrative that Walking Dead offers. “The Walking Dead Movie has to honor people who have invested the time in their lives and the show, but we can’t do that at the expense of inviting everybody,” Gimple announced according to ComicBook.
The last times fans saw Rick was in Season nine, episode five of the series which premiered in 2018. Gimple released a statement for fans to take note that this version of Rick Grimes may be a bit different than the one they last saw. Even more time has passed in the story, six years in the story’s world to be exact, so these films will be a welcomed explanation for fans who were wondering what happened to Rick Grimes.