Andrew Lincoln is departing ‘The Walking Dead‘ this Sunday with the episode “What Comes After” and will be getting a send-off of Rick Grimes with which includes the return of co-stars Jon Bernthal, Sonequa Martin-Green, and the late Scott Wilson. In saying goodbye to the series, he recently drafted a letter which was released to the press as an endcap to his journey on the series. The actor recently stated that the show will benefit from his departure but long term fans and comic readers might not fully agree with this sentiment.
Either way, the actor has been working on the series for years and saying goodbye to a role that one has played for this long is also saying goodbye to a piece of themselves. Of course, we know that Lincoln will be back to direct an episode next season and if he somehow survives the next episode alive, we could see him return to the franchise.
Either way, this Sunday will mark his departure from the series, and you can read his letter below:
“Thank you…
For coming with us on this journey. For the nine years of fear, heartache, anger and, let’s face it, guts you’ve shown by making it through these 115 episodes and counting. And for services to journalism that go way behind any civilised levels of human endurance.
For understanding that despite the high volume of undead, this is actually an ongoing story about what it is to be alive. A story of hope, family, and friendship. People with nothing in common discovering that they have everything in common. United in their search for humanity and a place to call home. A story that has perhaps even more relevance now than it did when we began.
It’s been the most exciting, challenging and satisfying role of my career — and for the best part of a decade, the greatest adventure of my professional life. This season feels like the show I fell in love with all those years ago, and the world we were always heading toward when we wrapped the pilot episode.
By my own rough count, I’ve killed over 400 zombies during the apocalypse. Lost a horse, found a horse. Lost a girl… that didn’t go well. Ate a dog once. Wore a meat poncho twice. Escaped from a bunch of hipster cannibals. Not to mention I’ve been shot twice, baseball batted, stabbed three times, bit a man’s throat out (I’m sorry — that was weird — and tasted like chicken), and had my cowboy boots resoled… 12 times.
We began as an indie movie, and years later became a three-letter acronym (wtf?). And along the way, we’ve had the unique pleasure of meeting zombie enthusiasts all over our beautiful blue planet. From Tokyo to Trinidad, people have been united by their love of this story of survival… and Norman Reedus’ extraordinarily luscious hair.
It’s been a wild ride, shaped by the relationship between the show and the fans of the show, and in no small part you good people of the press.
I look forward to following your coverage of the show and my friends in Atlanta for seasons to come — what they have planned is quite incredible.
So thank you.
For all of it.
For the good, the bad… and of course, we wouldn’t be a free press… without the ugly.
Until our paths cross again.
Keep Calm and Carry a Red Machete…”
Andrew Lincoln
Are you sad to see Andrew Lincoln leave AMC’s ‘The Walking Dead’? What did you think of his goodbye letter? With this coming episode being his last do you think that Rick Grimes is about to depart the land of the living? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Rick Grimes will be leaving ‘The Walking Dead’ after this Sunday’s episode on AMC!
Source: Comic Book
