Andrew Lincoln explains The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live premiere shocker
Andrew Lincoln discusses the shocking premiere of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live and how it stays true to the original comic book.
Rick Grimes' Shocking Act
The premiere of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live shocked fans with a brutal act that closely resembles a moment in the original comic book. In the first episode, Andrew Lincoln's character, Rick Grimes, is shown working for the Civic Republic Military.
While on a mission to clear out walkers on fire, Rick finds himself captive and tethered to a soldier. However, Rick surprises everyone by chopping off his own wrist to escape. He even cauterizes the wound using a dead zombie.
This shocking act serves as a course correction, as in the comic book, Rick had already lost his hand early on. The show's decision to finally separate Rick from his limbs was influenced by Lincoln himself, who had been advocating for it for years.
Andy's Determination
Andrew Lincoln, who plays Rick Grimes, reveals that he campaigned for the character's hand to be cut off ever since the original Walking Dead series. Despite facing resistance, Lincoln persisted and convinced the show's creators to honor the comic book storyline.
Throughout multiple conversations, Lincoln pushed for the idea, even though some questioned its feasibility. He believed it was the right time to pay tribute to the source material and explain why Rick had never returned.
Rick's resilience and determination are well-known to fans, and cutting off his own hand demonstrates the extreme lengths he is willing to go to reunite with his loved ones.
Setting the Tone
The decision to include Rick's hand amputation at the start of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live serves to establish the tone of the series. By showcasing such extreme acts, the show captures the essence of the comic book and its unpredictable nature.
While comic book creator Robert Kirkman later expressed regret over the decision, showrunner Scott M. Gimple believed it was necessary for viewers to experience the unexpected in this post-apocalyptic world. Adapting the hand amputation in the TV version presented challenges, but Gimple was committed to making it work.
The brutal act of cutting off Rick's hand sets the stage for the intense and unpredictable journey that lies ahead in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live.
