Rick might not be coming back, but Andrew Lincoln is not quite done with The Walking Dead. Earlier this year it was confirmed that the upcoming ninth season of the hit show would be Lincoln’s last. His decision to leave the series was ultimately due to his wife and two kids who live in London.“I have two young children, and I live in a different country, and they become less portable as they get older,” said Lincoln in an interview with EW. “It was that simple. It was time for me to come home.”
However, Lincoln isn’t leaving The Walking Dead for good. Lincoln announced that he will be returning to the set of season 9 in order to learn how to direct in hopes of helming an episode of season 10. This wouldn’t be the first time an actor directed an episode of the show. Michael Culditz, Abraham in the show, directed the upcoming season’s seventh episode after also shadowing a director on set.
Related: The Walking Dead Season 9 Teaser Promises New Beginnings
“I’m going back,” Lincoln told EW “I’m going back to shadow a director, and my intention is to direct next year. I can’t be that far away because I can’t bear it. That’s how much I am invested in the show and the continuation of the story.”
Rick is one of the few remaining original characters on the show and season 9 is set to be quite the emotional departure for Lincoln. Naturally, AMC and the producers have been tight lipped on how Rick will leave but if the past is any indication, it won’t be a happy and bright affair. Who will rise up to lead once Rick is gone?
Season 9 of The Walking Dead is in the final stages of filming and is set to premiere on October 7.
The Walking Dead Season 9
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Danai Gurira as Michonne - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery - Photo Credit: Michael Muller/AMC
Danai Gurira as Michonne - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery - Photo Credit: Michael Muller/AMC -
Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery - Photo Credit: Michael Muller/AMC
Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery - Photo Credit: Michael Muller/AMC -
Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery - Photo Credit: Michael Muller/AMC
Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery - Photo Credit: Michael Muller/AMC -
Cailey Fleming as Judith - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery - Photo Credit: Michael Muller/AMC
Cailey Fleming as Judith - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery - Photo Credit: Michael Muller/AMC -
The Walking Dead Season 9b
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The Walking Dead Season 9b
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The Walking Dead Season 9b
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Pollyanna McIntosh as Jadis/Anne - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
Pollyanna McIntosh as Jadis/Anne - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
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Seth Gilliam as Father Gabriel Stokes - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
Seth Gilliam as Father Gabriel Stokes - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
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Tom Payne as Paul 'Jesus' Rovia - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
Tom Payne as Paul 'Jesus' Rovia - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
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Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
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Avi Nash as Siddiq - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
Avi Nash as Siddiq - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
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Lauren Cohan as Maggie Rhee - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
Lauren Cohan as Maggie Rhee - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
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Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
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Ross Marquand as Aaron - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
Ross Marquand as Aaron - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
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The Walking Dead Season 9
Seth Gilliam as Father Gabriel Stokes- The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC
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The Walking Dead Season 9
Danai Gurira as Michonne - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Jackson Lee Davis/AMC
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The Walking Dead Season 9
Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Jackson Lee Davis/AMC
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The Walking Dead Season 9
Seth Gilliam as Father Gabriel Stokes, Pollyanna McIntosh as Jadis/Anne, Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, Danai Gurira as Michonne, Alanna Masterson as Tara Chambler - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Jackson Lee Davis/AMC
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The Walking Dead Season 9
Christian Serratos as Rosita Espinosa - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Jackson Lee Davis/AMC
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The Walking Dead Season 9
Khary Payton as Ezekiel, Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier, Lauren Cohan as Maggie Rhee, Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Jackson Lee Davis/AMC
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The Walking Dead Season 9
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, Danai Gurira as Michonne, Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon, Khary Payton as Ezekiel, Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Jackson Lee Davis/AMC
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The Walking Dead Season 9
Khary Payton as Ezekiel, Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Jackson Lee Davis/AMC
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The Walking Dead Season 9
Khary Payton as Ezekiel, Cooper Andrews as Jerry - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Jackson Lee Davis/AMC
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The Walking Dead Season 9
Josh McDermitt as Dr. Eugene Porter, Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, Khary Payton as Ezekiel, Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Jackson Lee Davis/AMC
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The Walking Dead Season 9
Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon, Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, Danai Gurira as Michonne - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Jackson Lee Davis/AMC
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The Walking Dead Season 9
Callan McAuliffe as Alden, Lauren Cohan as Maggie Rhee - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Jackson Lee Davis/AMC
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The Walking Dead Season 9
The Walking Dead Pictured: Danai Gurira, Callan McAuliffe
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Alanna Masterson as Tara Chambler - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
Alanna Masterson as Tara Chambler - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
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Callan McAuliffe as Alden - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
Callan McAuliffe as Alden - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
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Christian Serratos as Rosita Espinosa - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
Christian Serratos as Rosita Espinosa - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
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Cooper Andrews as Jerry - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
Cooper Andrews as Jerry - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
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Danai Gurira as Michonne - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
Danai Gurira as Michonne - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
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Josh McDermitt as Dr. Eugene Porter - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
Josh McDermitt as Dr. Eugene Porter - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
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Katelyn Nacon as Enid - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
Katelyn Nacon as Enid - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
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Khary Payton as Ezekiel - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
Khary Payton as Ezekiel - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
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Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon - The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Gallery- Photo Credit: Victoria Will/AMC
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The Walking Dead Season 9
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Fear the Walking Dead 4B
