The Walking Dead creator thought it would funny to kill off beloved character

Robert Kirkman talks about his desire to kill off Rick Grimes in the TV series The Walking Dead, only for it to be shot down.

It is July 2023, and the annual San Diego Comic-Con event was in full swing this weekend, filled with dedicated fans, artists, and some of the legends of the comic industry themselves. Among them was Robert Kirkman, the creative genius behind the phenomenal franchise The Walking Dead.

According to a report by Deadline, Kirkman stood on the stage of Hall H and dropped a bombshell that made the hearts of the audience skip a beat. In his younger days, Kirkman shared, he wanted the television adaptation of his work to take a much different turn from the comics. He wanted to kill off Rick Grimes, the fan-favorite zombie-slaying sheriff’s deputy, brought to life by Andrew Lincoln.

Robert Kirkman wanted The Walking Dead to kill Rick Grimes

Kirkman talked about his early brainstorming sessions in the writers’ room, reminiscing on the changes he’d want to make. He commented:

"“With The Walking Dead, I was much younger and much more reckless. I was an absolute lunatic. I would get in the writers’ room and be like, ‘Kill Rick Grimes today! I don’t care! It’ll be funny! People will freak out, and it’ll be fun!”"

However, as much as the idea of such a seismic narrative shift excited him, he claims the response from the writers and producers was a unanimous “Robert, you’re crazy. We can’t do that.”

Rick Grimes, the man who got us invested in this franchise to begin with, did not meet an early death in the television show. His character lived through nine gritty seasons, and much to his fans’ liking, will be seen once again in the upcoming Walking Dead spinoff series, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live. Danai Gurira will also be on the show playing her role as the badass Michonne, adding more excitement to the anticipation around the new series which set to debut in 2024.

Rick Grimes is a central figure in both the The Walking Dead comics, written by Robert Kirkman, and its TV adaptation. In the comics, Rick starts as a small-town sheriff, waking from a coma to a world taken over by undead. In the TV series, Rick’s path follows a similar trajectory.

A natural leader, he guides of a group of survivors through a harsh, undead-ridden world with bravery and determination. Throughout the series, Rick’s character evolves significantly as he deals with the harsh realities of survival, unprecedented moral dilemmas, and the weight of leadership. Despite the challenging circumstances and all the shocking twists, Rick’s commitment to his group’s survival and his unwavering humanity continue to anchor the sage as well as keep fans invested.

It’s note-worthy to add that while Kirkman didn’t manage to kill off TV-series-Rick, he did successfully off him with a plot twist in the comics. The comics’ Rick Grimes met his end in 2019, a move that shocked and saddened fans around the world but definitely made things more interesting.

Only time will tell whether we might see other major surprises in the upcoming spinoffs. One thing is certain, though – the world of The Walking Dead will continue to keep us entertained, no matter who lives or dies.