AMC’s small-screen adaptation of Robert Kirkman’s long-running comic book series, The Walking Dead, has never shied away from following its ruthless source material and killing off main characters, but this was taken to a whole new level when a particularly nasty villain named Negan showed up with a barbed-wire-wrapped baseball bat. Even still, fans have always assumed that Rick Grimes, at least, was safe – however, the man who plays him isn’t quite so sure.
During an interview with The LA Times, Andrew Lincoln shared his thoughts on his character’s longevity, and it sounds like he might have accepted that fact that literally nobody is safe on the show anymore. The actor admits that, for the first time, he’s come to see Rick as “expendable,” saying that all bets are off.
I’m the dude that woke up in the hospital in the very beginning — I’d like to think there’s a bit of job security there. But then suddenly Negan turns up, with that crazy baseball bat, and all bets are off. Don’t get me wrong. I think Rick is very much in the fabric of the show. But then, so was Glenn. We’re all expendable on this show.
Though Lincoln’s comments are far from confirmation that the character’s days are numbered, it’s possible that the actor is privy to some inside information. Rick has obviously been the primary protagonist since the very first episode, but there’s a popular theory that the incredibly resilient character will indeed meet his maker before the story finishes up, leaving his son, Carl, to lead the group in his absence.
At any rate, it’s safe to assume that Rick will see his people through this current batch of The Walking Dead episodes, which conclude this Sunday with what promises to be an eventful season 7 finale.