Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Invincible Season 4 episode "Hurm." Stream the episode on streaming with a Prime subscription, and read at your own risk!

Invincible Season 4 went to Hell in its latest episode, and it was an unexpected adventure on many fronts. Mark learned a lot about the reality behind the "Under Realm," as Damien Darkblood called it, and how demons actually protect humanity in a surprising way he didn't expect. Overall, I was a fan of the episode, with one major exception when it comes to the animation.

Robert Kirkman's animated series deserves credit for being one of the only animated shows to consistently release hour-long episodes. It's a costly endeavor, and while I understand the need to re-use or skimp on certain parts of the animation process, the latest episode was the first time I've fully locked into what others have talked about over the years.

Invincible's Hell Episode Was The First Time I've Noticed The Show Skimping On Animation

Invincible's "Hurm" episode was a deviation from the comics and an opportunity for Robert Kirkman and the writers to further flesh out the character Damien Darkblood. It was cool considering the comics originally presented the character as a joke, but in this episode expanded his story by telling the story of Hell's various factions, and how in this world, demons are more of a species rather than anything religious.

As cool as it was to watch Darkblood explain that demons actually protect humanity from a deeper evil that exists in Hell, I couldn't help but be irked by the persistent recycling of animated sequences. There were frequent instances in this episode where the same shot was used a few times, or it seemed like the dialogue went on just a little too long, just because it was cheaper to animate that way. It was so choppy, it almost felt like I was watching Space Ghost Coast to Coast during the part where Mark and Darkblood were falling down the pit.

The straw that broke the camel's back for me, however, is when Invincible showed Mark about to take on the iconic Cerberus, only for the entire fight to take place off-camera. It could've been the best fight I'd seen on the 2026 TV schedule, and instead, I just saw Damien Darkblood slowly rising and then falling to the ground while we heard audio of Mark's fight. I ended the episode thoroughly annoyed, and hoping the blatant cost-cutting is justified down the stretch.

Fans Have Complained About Invincible's Animation Quality In The Past

I'm not the first person to complain about the animation in Invincible, and I have seen many make similar complaints in the past. I think it's especially evident to a generation of fans who grew up watching Japanese anime, in which shows like One Piece and Dragon Ball take special care in showing great visuals when it comes to fight scenes.

Those complaints reared their head again in this latest episode, though many were more focused on Invincible doing a "filler" episode right before the big Viltrumite war. Even then, there were a few who echoed my thoughts about the repetitive animation:

• Y'all really loved that episode in season 2 where they explained how animation works and why it takes so long to make, huh? Trash - @SlickBE_
• There are actors in Invincible with more budget going to them than the entire animation team. - @dillzilla11
• Invincible good as f--k but the animation seem a bit weird at times. - @MrBURNSone
• I remember seeing someone s--t on the invincible artstyle for me its not even that, it's just the choppy a-- animation lmfaooo there's movement like every 3 sec - @grayfeeIs
• Dog s--t animation - @Codemanlex

Now, if this episode cut corners because we have some great animated fights coming in the back half of the season, I'm all about that. I would love to see another brutal fight between Mark and Conquest, and Omni-Man and Allen pushed to their limits against other combatants.

That said, I do wonder if these animation constraints are more of a time or budget issue. If it's budget, I would love to see Amazon given Invincible a little more support so this show can continue to be as good as it is, and the animation measures up to the writing. If it's due to time, I hated waiting as long as I did for Season 2, but maybe that's what needs to happen to get the series up to par, like many seem to want.

Invincible has new episodes release on Prime Video on Wednesdays. It's all we have that's new from the franchise at the moment while the live-action movie is still in development, so stay tuned for updates!

Invincible Season 4 is fast-approaching, and as we wait to see its premiere on the 2026 TV schedule in March, co-creator Robert Kirkman is teasing some great things for the upcoming episodes. This includes something he never got around to doing when making the comics, and if you were a fan of one specific character introduced in Season 1, you'll be thrilled.

Damien Darkblood, the demon detective who helped crack the case that Omni-Man killed the Guardians of the Globe, was more or less a joke character in the comics. That said, the character (voiced by actor Clancy Brown) was well-loved by viewers, to the point that Robert Kirkman told SFX on CinemaBlend that it opened the door to a completely original side story for Invincible in Season 4. In fact, it will almost certainly bring the character back in a big way:

Readers might remember Darkblood had a brief scene in Season 3's post-credits, in which he summoned a demon that appeared to be Satan. The demon detective informed him that he'd found a potential vessel for him to reign with on Earth, with power that hasn't been seen "for eons." Not only that, he figured out a way to conjure that person to Hell, which is presumably what will kick off the Season 4 arc.

If I had to guess, Darkblood will summon Mark to Hell, and he'll come face-to-face with some of the darkest evils he's ever seen. How that will impact his new policy to protect Earth "by any means," remains to be seen, and I can imagine witnessing such horrors could even bleed into his relationship with Eve.

Kirkman confirmed this experience may have a lot of consequences, some of which we'll see play out in future seasons:

I do have to wonder if we'll see Mark run into some other former enemies, or see some other familiar faces when he's in Hell. I also have to wonder if he'll be expecting to run into Conquest, and be tipped off that he's not as dead as he assumed at the end of Invincible Season 3.

One person I'd hate to see is Rex Splode, who tragically died in Season 3. I'm not quite sure what the rules of Hell are in the Invincible universe, or where superheroes go when they do technically kill others but for the good of protecting others. The creator also said the Hell of this show may surprise some people, so maybe people we wouldn't expect could be there.

Season 4 of Invincible is promoted to be a big one, with Robert Kirkman teasing that the Viltrumite War is on the way. This means we're going to see more of Omni-Man and Allen, and probably a lot more aggression by the alien species when it comes to Earth. I'm sure once they learn that Conquest failed to take down Mark, they won't hold back in sending much more powerful warriors to put him in his place.

Invincible Season 4 premieres for those with Prime subscription on March 18th. I'm ecstatic to see the new episodes, and hoping that this new Hell subplot delivers some thrills the entire fandom can enjoy.

Invincible Season 4's premiere is rapidly approaching amid the 2026 TV schedule and, after the wild end to Season 3, I have a feeling fans are in for some major developments. Mark Grayson overcame a litany of insurmountable odds to protect Earth last time around, but after defeating one of the Viltrumite's top enforcers, there's no doubt the species will be sending much more his way and soon. And, luckily, we now have solid confirmation of that, which excites me.

SFX Magazine on CinemaBlend had a chance to speak to series creator Robert Kirkman and showrunner Simon Racioppa about Invincible Season 4, which they're dubbing "The Viltrumite War Season." Kirkman revealed what that meant and dropped some additional details that may be pleasing to fans:

If war is on the table, then chances are fans will get to see more of Allen and Omni-Man's work in space, which sees them attempting to bring the dominant empire to its knees. I've been dying to see more of that and their potential new ally in Battle Beast.

As mentioned, comic-book readers will get more detailed context on the Viltrumites and their way of life. Racioppa explained more about that and how he worked to make the species feel feel like more than just the villains of this story. Based on the EP's sentiments, a lot of thought has been put into all this:

As someone who has, with all due respect, felt like the Viltrumites were a mix of Dragon Ball Z's Saiyans and Superman's Kryptonians, it'll be great for Invincible to find a way to distinguish them more from those other fictional species. I'd also love to better understand their intentions for galactic domination, even if I don't agree with how they go about it.

There's so much for Invincible Season 4 to tackle that I do genuinely worry about how much it can get to over its next stretch of episodes. There's Mark and Eve's relationship, the usual threats facing Earth, constant changes in the lives of other supporting heroes and the fact that GDA has Conquest alive and hiding in their base.

In fairness, Season 3 was also jam-packed with storylines, and Invincible found a way to put a bow on most of it in the end. So I have no reason to doubt Season 4 will have the same flawless execution, and I'll be waiting to stream every episode with my Prime subscription, just dying to know what happens next.

Be sure to tune into Prime Video on March 18th for the three-episode premiere of Invincible Season 4. I'm so ready to see the Viltrumites in action, and hope that Mark's new policy to do whatever it takes to protect Earth means he can really start using his full potential when it comes to his powers.

For years, there’s been talk about Transformers and G.I. Joe, two of Hasbro’s biggest toy franchises, crossing over in a theatrical setting. In 2023, the groundwork was finally laid for that with the G.I. Joe tease tacked onto Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ ending, but it remains to be seen whether this crossover movie will actually happen. However, there’s a different kind of onscreen Transformers and G.I. Joe crossover that’s being put together, and I’m jazzed about Invincible’s Robert Kirkman being involved with it.

Kirkman’s Skybound Entertainment and Hasbro Entertainment are teaming up to make an adult animated series called Energon Universe, which is based on the same-named comic book franchise published by Skybound. Lucifer’s Joe Henderson has been tapped to write the series and serve as showrunner, and Deadline states that Energon Universe will be “broad, with adult sensibility in the vein of Kirkman’s gritty adult animated series Invincible.” The Transformers and G.I. Joe characters will be joined by Void Rivals, an original IP created by Kirkman and Lorenzo De Felici in 2023 that’s part of the same comic book line.

Transformers and G.I. Joe are usually depicted as family-friendly properties, and if/when that crossover movie gets off the ground, it’s a safe bet it’ll be PG-13. That said, I’m all for Transformers and G.I. Joe coming together with Void Rivals within more R-rated confines. Robert Kirkman and the rest of the talent behind Invincible have done stellar work, with the Amazon Prime Video subscription-exclusive series’ fourth season premiering in March 2026 and a fifth season already ordered. I absolutely welcome these properties being adapted in a similar manner. 

Per this report, Energon Universe “is expected to be taken out to buyers shortly.” So we’ll have to wait and see if it’s set up on Prime Video alongside Invincible or ends up at a different streamer. I also welcome seeing Joe Henderson tackle a comic book adaptation that’s more faithful to its roots, as the Lucifer TV series deviated significantly from its source material. The comics Energon Universe also includes M.A.S.K. within its mythology, but it’s unclear if that task force will be included in the animated series.

Energon Universe is just one of many projects that Hasbro has coming up on the film and TV side of things. Others include a Monopoly movie at Lionsgate, a live-action Magic: The Gathering film and TV universe with Legendary (plus an animated series at Netflix), and a Power Rangers TV reboot at Disney+. The Energon Universe comic book line has been a tremendous success since launching two years ago, selling over 7 million combined units worldwide.

We’ll keep you apprised on Energon Universe’s development as more updates come in. As for the Transformers/G.I. Joe movie, it was reported in June 2024 that Derek Connelly was writing the script, so it’d be nice to learn where things stand with that project more than a year later.

The streaming wars have been in effect for years now, with each service having its own acclaimed original content. Those with an Amazon Prime subscription were recently treated to Season 3 of Invincible, but there are still lingering questions about whether or not a live-action movie will ever happen. And Robert Kirman recently provided an update on that long-gestating project.

While Kirkman regularly expresses interest in an Invincible flick, the timeline of the upcoming superhero movie still isn't clear. This subject once again came up during an interview with ComicBook, where he expressed confidence that a live-action movie adaptation is an inevitability. As he put it:

Ok then. While not exactly a confirmation or a release date, it sounds like the comic book writer thins that an Invincible movie will happen eventually. Hopefully we get more information soon, and actual concrete development on the project will move forward. Fingers crossed.

Of course, fans of the franchise (myself included) might not want to hold their breath. Just because Kirkman thinks an Invincible movie isn't happening doesn't mean that there's any deal inked or anything official happening. Instead, he seems focused on the animated series for the time being.

Invincible's Season 3 finale was a doozy, with Mark, Eve, and Oliver engaging in a horrifying battle with the Viltrumite Conquest. It was an epic and bloody fight, one that seemingly killed a ton of innocents in the process. And through much of the episode I was wondering how this sequence might look in live-action.

Indeed, the biggest challenge in giving Invincible a live-action adaptation would be attempting to give the project the same scale as the comics and animated series. The heroes in the series are wildly strong and fast, especially the Viltrumutes like Omni-Man and Invincible himself. Add in the franchise's penchant for gore and brutal violence and there are a number of potential road blocks to the movie getting a live-action movie.

Case in point: Season 1's scene where Omni-Man puts his son in front of a subway and uses him to rip through the body of countless passengers. It's already disturbing on the page and in the TV series, but seeing this type of massacre play out in live-action would no doubt be even worse. We'll just have to wait and see if the movie ever happens.

Invincible's first three season (and the Atom Eve special) are streaming in their entirety on Amazon. Unfortunately, we shouldn't expect to see more new episodes as part of the 2025 TV premiere list.

Are you ready to get your face and heart pummeled in again and again? Because Invincible Season 4 is confirmed and coming back to fans with Amazon Prime subscriptions

The third season kicked and punched its way into our hearts during the early months of the 2025 TV schedule, but despite all the pain and sobbing that transpired over the last few weeks, we know that Season 4 is happening, and that we won't have to wait too long for it. And I'm sure it's only going to break our hearts again and again, especially after that gory Season 3 finale.

But when can we expect Season 4 of Invincible? And what will the storyline be like? Here are all the details we know so far.

What Is The Invincible Season 4 Release Date?

At the time of writing this, in March 2025, there is no set release date for Invincible Season 4. However, it's not all bad news.

In an interview with Variety in March 2025, creator Robert Kirkman opened up about the release timeframe of the next season. He said that the timeline between seasons will 'vaguely' be the same:

However, he did say that the goal is for the show to come out at some point next year:

Without any obstacles popping up, we could see the next season of Invincible as soon as next year, which is a blessing. Between Seasons 1 and 2, fans had to wait quite a bit for the story to continue after Omni-Man's big reveal, which Kirkman has opened up about. Thankfully, Season 3 came only a year after Season 2, and the yearly releases now seem more possible than before.

The Invincible Season 4 Cast

One of the aspects that makes Invincible a perfect superhero show is that it has a star-studded cast, and there are plenty of names that we will most likely hear again. Here is who you can expect to return:

• Steven Yeun as Mark
• Sandra Oh as Debbie Grayson
• J.K. Simmons as Omni-Man
• Gillian Jacobs as Samantha Wilkins/Atom Eve
• Zazie Beetz as Amber Bennett
• Walton Goggins as Cecil Stedman
• Chris Diamantopoulos as Donald Ferguson
• Zachary Quinto as Robot and Ross Marquand as Rudy/Rex
• Ross Marquand as The Immortal
• Malese Jow as Kate Cha/Dupli-Kate
• Grey Griffin as Shrinking Rae and Monster Girl
• Khary Payton as Black Samson
• Jay Pharoah as Bulletproof
• Mark Hamill as Arthur Rosenbaum
• Sterling K. Brown as Angstrom Levy
• Seth Rogen as Allen the Alien

The cast list for this show kind of goes on and on, with Robert Kirkman bringing in more and more stars to fill out the roles from his comic book series and beyond, so expect to hear a lot more.

Someone we most likely won't hear again is Jason Mantazoukas as Rex. Even though Rex had a bigger story in Season 3, he ended up getting killed in a massive fight against several multiversal versions of Mark. So we won't be seeing him again – at least not as a main character anymore.

But another person we'll probably hear more of is Conquest, voiced by Jeffrey Dean Morgan. His character from the finale of Season 3 is not dead (as we see with Cecil), so expect that particular Walking Dead reunion to continue.

What Is The Invincible Season 4 Story?

Since Invincible Season 4 is confirmed, what are we going to dive into in the next part of Mark's adventure? Here is what we know so far:

Mark Is Learning That Killing People Might Be The Only Option Sometimes

As we saw from the gory finale, we know that Mark is finally starting to grow up and realize the error of his ways – which means he's leaning more towards making sure the people who threaten his family are dead. Robert Kirkman talked about Mark's change and growth with Variety:

He also brought up the fact that Mark does believe that Conquest is dead now and that because of that, he's starting to mentally shift into this mindset of keeping his family safe from threats:

Now, he's starting to realize that he needs to make some tough decisions if he wants to keep the people he cares about safe. So, I suppose that means we're probably going to get a lot more gory episodes soon.

Thragg Will Most Likely Show Up Soon

For those who have read the Invincible comics, you might know who Thragg is. He's essentially bred to be the strongest Viltrumite ever and has lived for thousands of years. And now, we know that Thragg has been cast. Kirkman revealed the details in the interview with Variety:

The Viltrumites have slowly become a much more significant threat as time has gone on with this show, and now, with Mark beating the absolute snot out of Conquest, I can only imagine that this won't be the last time we see the Viltrumites. And now, if Thragg is a part of this, it's going to be one heck of a bloody time.

Mark And Crew Might End Up Going To Hell

While Invincible is based on comics, there are some stories that Kirkman never got to do when he wrote them. Now, in that interview with Variety, he revealed that Mark and crew might end up going to Hell – you know, the actual underworld, because it was something he always wanted to do, and was teased in the Season 3 finale with Damien Darkblood getting sent down there:

Kirkman says that he always wanted to do a plotline in Hell, but he was never able to because of the direction the story was going and that he kept getting "sidetracked:"

I mean, at this rate, Mark might as well face God himself if they're going straight down to Hell, but I am here for it.

Season 4 Is Getting "Wrapped Up"

While I know we're going to be waiting until at least 2026 for Season 4, there is a good chance we could get it early in the year from what Kirkman told The Direct in March 2025. Kirkman said that the focus right now is on getting the main show (and not spinoffs or specials) out as quickly as possible, stating that right now, they are "wrapping up Season 4:"

Okay, now, I'm excited.

What are you looking forward to with Season 4 of Invincible? Are you ready for Mark and Eve to be the ultimate power couple? I need to see more now.

Invincible Season 3 has finally premiered on the 2025 TV schedule, with the first three episodes becoming available for Prime Video subscription holders to stream, and five more on the way. Among the lineup of new talent on board for the new season are Breaking Bad alums Aaron Paul and Jonathan Banks, with the former voicing Powerplex and the latter’s role still officially being a secret (though it’s speculated he’s voicing Conquest). As it turns out though, Bryan Cranston, their co-star from the popular AMC series, has repeatedly turned down playing a role on Invincible, though my fingers are crossed this changes at some point.

Robert Kirkman, who wrote both the original Invincible comic books series and created the TV show, identified Bryan Cranston as the man who’s declined on several occasions the opportunity to lend his talents to one of the best Amazon Prime Video shows to binge watch. He told DiscussingFilm:

Bryan Cranston is certainly no stranger to voiceover roles, with some of his credits in that portion of his resume including Batman: Year One, Madagascar 3, the latter two Kung Fu Panda movies, Isle of Dogs and SuperMansion. So why does he keep turning down Invincible? It’s hard to say, but it sounds like Robert Kirkman is getting a kick out of it and doesn’t plan to stop asking him onto the show. Given that Season 4 has already been greenlit, he’s already guaranteed to do that at least one more time.

I’m game for certain traditions, but this is one that I hope is ended sooner rather than later. I understand Cranston’s working on a variety of different projects, including that Malcolm in the Middle revival, but coming in to do a guest or even recurring role on Invincible wouldn’t be nearly as time consuming as working in front of the camera. If he is truly the only actor who has declined working on Invincible, someone in his inner circle needs to change his mind and convince him to make time in his schedule for this popular TV show. It’d be even if he played someone who interacts with either Aaron Paul or Jonathan Banks’ characters, but I’ll take what I can get.

New episodes of Invincible drop Thursday on Prime Video, and be sure to keep visiting CinemaBlend for more coverage on the series. That includes J.K. Simmons opening up about Omni-Man’s return in Season 3 to CinemaBlend, as well as Steve Yeun and Gillian Jacobs giving their honest opinions to us about if Mark and Eve’s romantic relationship will last.

As someone who has been on board with the animated Invincible series that's streamable with a Prime subscription, I'm all about seeing the franchise receive the live-action treatment. The series (which is adapted from a comic of the same name) has been successful, but updates on the upcoming superhero movie have been sparse. Fortunately, franchise creator Robert Kirkman recently shared an update on its status, which should give anyone concerned some hope that this movie will see the light of day.

Robert Kirkman recently shared an update on the Invincible movie while speaking with The Direct. Updates on the film have been few and far between since it was confirmed in 2017 that Kirkman would team up with Seth Rogen and others for the flick. Movies that remain in the works that long without updates are known to be caught in "development hell" and can take forever to move forward, but the creator's comments suggest that progress is moving along:

I'm not surprised to hear that Robert Kirkman wants to make a live-action adaptation as great as it can be. The wait for Invincible Season 2 was long as well, but that was mainly because he and the crew were also working to ensure that it was worthy of its predecessor and the source material. While there were some complaints from fans about splitting the season up and stretching it out, reviews were generally positive.

But will the Invincible movie survive long enough to find an audience when it is finally ready? It's safe to say the mainstream appetite for superhero projects in Hollywood is waning, with even the previously rampant list of upcoming Marvel movies slowing down. So I can't help but wonder if by the time Universal and Robert Kirkman are ready to move forward with production, people will still be as thrilled to see Omni-Man brought to life.

It's a question worth pondering but, as grittier superhero shows like The Boys and Peacemaker have shown, there is an appetite for more violent offerings in the genre. If there's one thing that Invincible is good at, it's showcasing the ultra-violence that people with superpowers can be capable of. I'd even argue that the series can be more violent than a modern franchise like Mortal Kombat, which is saying something.

Uncertainty about the state of the genre aside, I'm eager to see what Robert Kirkman and co. are cooking up. I also can't wait to find out which young Hollywood star will eventually play Mark Grayson. Of course, it'll probably be a while before the film hits the casting stage of production. Kirkman joked that development could take so long Timothée Chalamet could play Omni-Man, but let's hope that is not the case.

Spoilers below for anyone who hasn’t yet watched The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live’s series premiere on AMC or with an AMC+ subscription, so be warned!

After years of keeping fans waiting to reconnect with Andrew Lincoln’s post-apocalyptic hero Rick Grimes, the latest Walking Dead spinoff finally arrived on the small screen and gave fans a pair of huge reunions between the former lawman and Danai Gurira’s Michonne, though only one happened outside of his imagination. The premiere of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live also delivered a remix of a wildly infamous moment from Robert Kirkman’s comic book series: Rick getting one of his hands chopped off. But considering how long it took to finally get here, and everything that happened in the interim, I can’t help but think this was a “too little, too late” kind of callback. Let’s discuss.

Rick’s Reason For Losing His Hand In The Comic Makes Way More Sense

In the source material, it’s the sadistic Governor who’s responsible for Rick losing a limb, though the protagonist is technically just as much at fault, since it’s his insistence on not giving up the location of the prison (and the other survivors) that convinces the villainous leader to sever Rick’s handiest appendage. So on the page, Rick’s protective act of defiance in the face of an imminent threat is the reason why he has to learn how to do everything left-handed from that point forward.

On the TV show, however, that motivation is slightly more skewed. Rather than another character doing the chopping, it’s Lincoln’s beloved hero who consciously chooses to sacrifice his hand in an attempt to escape his CRM-connected captors. Which, as a way to get rid of a tracker, is definitely a ballsy move. But that choice is instantly watered down by the reveal that it didn’t actually lead to his permanent escape. So rather than The Governor using it as an unsuccessful act of torture, Rick uses it as an unsuccessful escape tactic.

Plus, it happens so early in the Ones Who Live premiere, when the exposition is in full swing, that it wasn’t immediately obvious when it was happening, or what the overall impact was. Time jumped forward, and he was rocking custom gloves and other fitted attachments, without much of a sense of struggle on his part to grow accustomed to such a huge change to his body.

The Walking Dead Already Remixed Rick’s Hand Amputation With Aaron

At this point in The Walking Dead’s live-action existence, many fans are already aware that its longtime star was one of the main proponents of his character losing a hand in the AMC series, and we’ve reported on Andrew Lincoln’s attempts to convince the producers to bring that comic moment into the live-action series. Unfortunately, those plans failed to materialize at the time David Morrissey’s Governor was around, with the reasoning being that it would have been too costly and difficult to make it appear as if Rick’s hand was gone in every single scene he was in. The idea of having to fall back on constant green-screen tech being needed was more stress-inducing than it would have been worth.

And so, despite sporadic moments in later seasons when it seemed like Rick might lose his hand to Jadis or Negan or another humanized threat, that character modification never came to light while Lincoln was still a series regular. On the contrary, the show actually ported the missing-limb element to Ross Marquand’s Aaron, whose arm is crushed beneath a pile of logs in Season 9’s “The Bridge,” and is then amputated. It’s an injury that Rick actually apologizes to Aaron for - as if he knew that it only happened because Rick never dealt with it himself - but was supposedly put in place before the Rick comparisons were realized.

Granted, it wasn’t until the flashforward in Episode 906, which took place after Andrew Lincoln’s final Rick episode, where Aaron was able to bring some badass adornments to the table, such as his patented ball of spikes, which he was able to use with success in the flagship series’ final few seasons. 

As such, it feels…strange, if not simply repetitive…for The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live to double down on severed limbs among this franchise’s leads at a time when many fans had already stopped expecting the TV universe to acknowledge that particular piece of the source material. Plus (for understandable reasons), as opposed to Comic Rick losing his dominant right hand, the live-action characters both lost their left hands. Which maybe isn’t so much an issue for Rick, who has long appeared to be just as capable as a lefty, but still.

Nothing Is All That Different About Rick’s Hand At This Point

For anyone expecting or hoping for Andrew Lincoln’s Rick to earn a slightly similar appendage upgrade similar to Aaron’s in The Walking Dead proper, The Ones Who Live has the potential to make the latter’s spiky ball look like…a toy spiky ball? The CRM is the largest organized organization in the country, and seems capable of producing most things competently, so there was an opportunity missed in not showing off any cool add-ons in the premiere. 

Rick’s own rebellious behavior no doubt had higher-ups nervous about equipping him with anything too deadly, but it was still mildly disappointing to see him largely rocking a hand-shaped attachment and a bladed one. Now that Rick appears to be successfully out of the CRM’s clutches, having reunited with Michonne after the military helicopter was shot down, he’ll presumably need to fashion his own arsenal of weapons to attach to his left arm as the season goes on. In fact, Andrew Lincoln had to stop himself from spoiling where things go on that front when talking to THR, saying:

I can’t be the only one out here hoping for a future The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live episode to introduce Chekov’s chainsaw in the opening act, only to bring it back in the third act for Rick Grimes to go all Evil Dead 2 on somebody by somehow jamming the chainsaw onto the end of his left arm. Rick Grimes + Ash Williams = the undead’s worst nightmare. 

So I’ll allow for the idea that Scott Gimple & Co. still have lots of time to deliver some truly amazing and Grimes-approved mayhem by way of whatever Rick modifies his left arm with, and I’ll keep the faith that it’ll be worth the wait the same way it was worth waiting for their emotional shockwaves upon reuniting in the premiere’s final moments.

For my money, I would have liked to have seen The Ones Who Live set up Rick’s new normal in a way that put an additional emphasis on how vital his hands were for everyday duties, so that his eventual decision to lop it off would have had more specific ramifications for his daily duties. Maybe I’m asking for too much. If so, I’ll blame that on the comic book’s excellence. 

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live airs Sunday nights on AMC at 9:00 p.m. ET.

After a much-anticipated wait for the Amazon primer series, Season 2 of the animated series Invincible finally hit the 2023 TV schedule! Simon Racioppa, the Executive Producer and Co-Showrunner, recently teased the exciting possibility of a crossover that could shake the foundation of superhero entertainment. In a recent interview, the former Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance writer hinted at the potential inclusion of Marvel characters, even the Spectacular Spider-Man, in the Invincible universe. Although superhero crossovers aren't a groundbreaking concept, the complexities of licensing and studio agreements have often made them tricky to pull off across companies. Nevertheless, the idea of these two worlds colliding has me buzzing with anticipation, and my spidey-senses are tingling at the possibilities!

Racioppa recently sat down with The Hollywood Handle and shared his enthusiasm for crossovers. The George of the Jungle veteran writer provided valuable insights in the exclusive interview for Invincible Season 2. Inquiring about the widespread fan speculation regarding a Spider-Man crossover, he had this to say:

Though it may appear unconventional for superhero fans to entertain the idea of Spider-Man, a Marvel Comics character, appearing in an animated series based on an Image Comics creation, historical instances lend credence to the fan speculation. In a noteworthy crossover, the two youthful superheroes intersected in Marvel Comics’ Marvel Team-Up #14 back in 2006, establishing a connection to Image Comics’ Invincible #33.

Notably, Josh Keaton, recognized as a fan favorite for voicing Peter Parker in The Spectacular Spider-Man and various projects, is among the guest stars in Invincible Season 2. Adding to the intrigue, Sony has a Prime Video deal (Invincible’s streaming platform) for upcoming spin-offs featuring everyone’s favorite wallcrawler. Season 2 is also set to introduce the multiverse concept through the character Angstrom Levy, who can open portals to alternate dimensions. However, licensing issues may hinder the Marvel universe’s inclusion in the Invincible Multiverse, according to Racioppa. Currently, no official crossover announcement means fans should temper expectations regarding Spider-Man gracing the Amazon show.

Invincible’s star-studded cast boasts talents like Steven Yeun and J.K. Simmons shine, with Simmons’ Ominiman character earning widespread popularity, so much so that Ominiman made an impressive entry into Mortal Kombat’s recent MK1 reboot. So, crossovers are certainly within the realm of possibility regarding the Image property, but as Racioppa pointed out, TV might be a trickier multiverse to crack.

Invincible is a perfect superhero show for '90s kids, and a crossover with the friendly neighborhood web-slinger would be a dream come true. If you’re not up to speed on the Robert Kirkman series, seize the opportunity now—Season 1 is ready for streaming with an Amazon Prime Video subscription. Season 2 kicked off on November 3, 2023, with the first four episodes and the final four slated for an early 2024 release.

Spoilers ahead for Invincible’s Season 2 premiere.

The superhero genre is a powerful force in both the TV and film industries, with no signs of slowing down. Amazon got in on the fun with The Boys, as well as its brutal animated series Invincible. The latter recently returned for its second season, with the premiere offering an update on Steven Yeun’s Mark Grayson. I like Invincible Season 2’s premiere, but there was one big thing missing for me. And I need to talk about it!

The wait between seasons of Invincible was brutal, although we were treated to the Atom-Eve special in July of 2023. But Robert Kirkman’s superhero show is back, bringing more bloody action for those with an Amazon Prime subscription. Invincible Season 2’s premiere brought in the multiverse, and also revealed how Mark and Debbie are processing their trauma from the Season 1 finale. But I’ve got to say, the absence of J.K. Simmons’ Omniman was super noticeable, and it left me wanting more.

Omniman left Earth after the brutal final battle in Invincible’s Season 1 finale, where he massacred countless people and nearly killed his son. While we saw an alternate version of him in Season 2‘s premiere, I need to know where TF the Omniman in the main timeline is. 

Obviously Invincible is doing this for a reason, and has a specific story to tell. J.K. Simmons’ character being gone from Earth has allowed more time to show the way his family is trying to cope after his departure, and the realization that he was an evil alien the whole time. But he’s a wildly popular character, with Omniman even making it into Mortal Kombat. So I’m eager to see the main timeline version of the character return to my screen.

Robert Kirkman explained the long wait for Season 2 of Invincible was related to getting its animation as beautiful as possible, and the new episode "A Lesson For Your Next Life" certainly didn’t disappoint in that regard. In addition to the Viltrumite characters, there are plenty of superheroes and villains in the series, all of whom have unique power sets. And it should be fascinating to see how it all shakes out, especially with the new Guardians of the Globe. 

The cast of Invincible all bring their A-game, but I have to give it to J.K. Simmons for commanding the most attention when he’s voicing Omniman. While he might have been largely absent from the premiere, one can only imagine the show’s plans for its primary antagonist. Although smart money says bloody violence is part of it.

Invincible airs new episodes Fridays on Amazon. Be sure to check out the TV premiere list to plan your next movie experience.

The long wait for Invincible's return is finally over, and given what we know about Season 2 of the superhero comic book adaptation, it'll be well worth the wait. The new episodes aren't the only thing that fans can look forward to, however, as November 8th will officially mark Omni-Man's arrival in the video game Mortal Kombat 1. The ultra-powered villain feels like a natural fit for the franchise, which is proven in full through the video below, which reveals two of Season 1's most brutal moments are part of the character's moveset. Let's just say it's a good thing Mark isn't one of the other playable characters.

Fair warning to those who have yet to watch Invincible Season 1 with their Amazon Prime subscription: there are some mild spoilers ahead. That's thanks largely to the Mortal Kombat team, who incorporated two key moments from the show into Omni-Man's Fatal Blow and his Fatality. Take a look below at the latest video of the character in action and witness the true power of a Viltrumite: 

While there's still hope an Invincible movie could happen alongside the Amazon series, this may be the next best thing to seeing him in live-action. Seeing Omni-Man in this kind of 3D animation absolutely brutalizing opponents is as incredible as I assumed it would be, and those knuckle-crunching callbacks to Season 1 are the icing on the cake. I expected to see the face-smashing scene worked into the Fatal Blows, as it's the most Mortal Kombat moment that Omni-Man unleashed on his son Mark Grayson. 

What took me by surprise, though, was the fact that Omni-Man's Fatality is the horrifying subway scene, which is still burned into my memory. As seen in the video above, the villain holds his feeble opponent up as a speeding subway train speeds up and splits around them, with Liu Kang's body (in this case) used to destroy the train and kill everyone inside of it. It's certainly enough to kill any non-Grayson characters in Mortal Kombat 1, as well as being a horrifying moment for fans to re-witness in a completely new way. 

As brutal as this Mortal Kombat 1 Fatality is, it's even worse in Invincible. Mark doesn't take nearly as much physical damage from the subway due to his half-Viltrumite genes from his father. But the psychological damage from seeing people ripped apart while he's powerless to help them did quite a number on the hero, and was absolutely sickening to watch. I can't imagine any of Omni-Man's MK1 opponents will be so thoughtful about the carnage.

Omni-Man is one of the baddest dudes on the Mortal Kombat 1 roster, though we'll see if he holds that title in Invincible Season 2. The comic series has plenty of baddies to take on, though who knows how much of that will make it into the adapted series. Creator Robert Kirkman has an exciting plan for how to adapt the rest of the comic, but to say it's fluid on what will or won't make it in feels like an understatement. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what's coming and kick back and enjoy the return of one of Prime's best original shows. 

Invincible Season 2 Part 1 releases new episodes every Friday through November 24th on Prime Video, and Part 2 will pick up in early 2024. Prepare for all sorts of superhero awesomeness, and check out the Atom Eve spinoff episode currently available right now. 

Though The Walking Dead’s flagship series wrapped up in late 2022, the franchise still lives strong through a variety of projects, with fan-favorite characters taking the live-action universe in new directions. Currently Norman Reedus is heading up the spinoff The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, with the leather-clad redneck currently out of his element alongside some nuns and a possible messiah in France. The fact that he landed his own follow-up (which was originally meant to co-star Melissa McBride), and that it’s already been renewed for a second season, is proof that the character remains beloved with the fanbase. So why didn’t Daryl ever become an official comic book character?

It’s a question many fans have wondered over time, and even if it arguably happened more whenever the comic series’ initial run was actually still being published, the curiosity will likely always remain. So let’s dig into exactly why Robert Kirkman & Skybound never made the move to adapt Reedus’ crossbow enthusiast for the source material.

Robert Kirkman Didn't Wholly Create Daryl Himself

One reason why The Walking Dead’s comic series hasn’t ever really lost its relevance is that the entire run is being republished in expanded editions, and is currently around a third of the way through. Expectedly, Robert Kirkman has continued his fan letter pages within the newer editions, and The Walking Dead Deluxe #67 was where he most recently addressed the question of Daryl appearing only as a live-action TV character without ever getting a two-dimensional version on the page. He first addressed the fact that he wasn’t the person who solely created either Daryl or Merle Dixon. In his words: 

As Kirkman points out, the characters who were crafted specifically for the AMC series did not come from his own brain whole-cloth, but spawned from the combined efforts of the TV series' developer Frank Darabont and members of the Season 1 writing staff. And for all their insights, neither Daryl nor Merle would have become as popular as they did without memorable and eye-catching actors in the roles, so Reedus and former co-star Michael Rooker also deserve some form of co-creator credit in Kirkman's mind.

The Invincible creator followed that up by saying he didn't want to take responsibility for others' creations, while also saying he didn't want the the carriage to come before the cart, so to speak, by having the adaptation start to influence the source material. Here's how he put it:

Indeed, Robert Kirkman has spoken quite a bit over the years about TV plot points that he was jealous that he hadn't thought of when fleshing out certain plots for the comic series. But he's also maintained that those instances never made me want to start cribbing storylines from the TV series, especially since the AMC show was already so far behind the issues in the timeline. 

Likeness Rights Were Apparently Also A Factor

Even if Robert Kirkman had been 100% invested in bringing Daryl into the Walking Dead’s comic run, and got the thumbs-up from Frank Darabont and everyone else involved with creating the Dixon bros, the Outcast mastermind has also addressed the idea that there were complicated legal issues that barred him and TWD comic artist Charlie Adlard from porting a Norman Reedus lookalike. Back at San Diego Comic-Con 2018 (via ComicBook.com), Kirkman offered the following explanation for Daryl’s comic absence:

Unfortunately, he didn't speak further on the likeness rights matter, and that was one of few (if any other) times where that particular issue was addressed directly by a higher-up Walking Dead creative. It's possible the companies involved had strict stipulations, or it's possible Reedus himself balked at the idea of having an official likeness of himself out there in the wild.

Robert Kirkman Says He Wishes He Could Have Added Daryl

Over the years, Robert Kirkman has been asked roughly a quazillion times about changes he might have made to the comic book or TV series in a different universe, and what he wished he could take back, from regretting killing off Tyreese to wishing the series hadn't introduced its CDC reveal so early. He's shared various answers to that end, with one of them being that he'd loved for Daryl to have been the one TV character he wished was in the comic books from the get-go. Here's how he put it in an interview with AMC:

The closest fans have come to seeing Daryl Dixon in the Walking Dead comic books was the outstanding April Fool's Day gag Skybound pulled in 2014, in which the company unveiled a fake Daryl-centric comic cover, as seen below.

Beyond that, the acclaimed comic artist David Finch offered up his take on how Comic Book Daryl would look for the variant hardcover release of The Art of the Walking Dead, which is half of what's pictured at the top of this article. The image is partially in reference to the Daryl-esque character Dwight, whose face was partially burned by Negan during his time in the Saviors. 

Other Important Walking Dead TV Characters Who Never Appeared In The Comics

• Merle
• Sasha
• Mary
• Deanna and Reg
• Simon
• Jerry

All 11 seasons of The Walking Dead are available to stream in full with a Netflix subscription, while TWD: Daryl Dixon airs Sunday nights on AMC at 9:00 p.m. And stay up to date with Image Comics and Skybound to see when the upcoming Deluxe comic editions are hitting comic shops. 

It’s been more than two full years since Invincible Season 1 concluded, and although Amazon Prime Video subscribers were treated to the “Invincible: Atom Eve” special episode this past July, naturally a lot of anticipation for Season 2 has been built up. Fortunately for fans, that wait is almost over, as the first half of Invincible Season 2 a little over a month away from premiering. Naturally though, Invincible creator Robert Kirkman is looking much further ahead when it comes to the show, and while he has an exciting plan for future seasons, it has me a little bit worried.

Having written the entirety of the Invincible comic book series from 2003 to 2018, Kirkman is now overseeing the TV adaptation, which premiered on March 25, 2021. In addition to Season 2’s forthcoming arrival, Season 3 has already been greenlit, but as anyone familiar with the Invincible comic will tell you, it will take a long time to cover even roughly the same amount of ground laid by the source material. So when Polygon asked Kirkman was his “ideal big picture” is for the show, i.e. how many seasons he’ll need to properly tell this story, he answered:

To be clear, I have nothing against Invincible running for seven or eight seasons. Frankly, even accounting for more trimming of fat from the comics, I’d prefer the show ultimately hitting 10 seasons so that all the major beats can still be hit. What worries me is whether Robert Kirkman’s desire to reach this many seasons will be fulfilled.

Even though streaming is more popular than ever, it’s still a relatively new chapter in TV history, and certain kinks are still being ironed out. In this case, it’s rare that a show exclusive to streaming surpasses four or five seasons; more often than not, such programming is cancelled after just two or three seasons, if not axed after just one batch of episodes. Amazon’s longest-running scripted show, Bosch, ended after seven seasons (although that saga is now continuing through the spinoff Bosch: Legacy), and that’s followed by The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel lasting five seasons. Amazon’s currently long-running show, The Boys, has only been on for three seasons, with Season 4 on the way.

So while it would be amazing for Invincible to score seven or eight seasons like Robert Kirkman wants, I’m hesitant to say that the chances of that happening are more likely than not. Obviously the endgame is for the show to reach the same ending that the Image comic book series did, but fans would be wise to prepare for the possibility that this version of Mark Grayson’s superhero journey will reach an earlier conclusion. For now though, let’s just take comfort knowing that there are two more seasons guaranteed, and if the viewing numbers remain strong, then Season 4 has a strong chance of being greenlit.

The first half of Invincible Season 2 premieres November 3 on Amazon, and the second half will follow sometime in early 2024. Meanwhile, consult our 2023 TV schedule to learn what other shows are left to arrive this year, or take a look through the other best Prime Video shows that can be watched now.

Invincible Season 1 is one of the best pieces of animated superhero storytelling I've seen in some time. So it goes without saying that I -- like many others -- have eagerly awaited Season 2. After two years of anticipation, it's almost here, but some might wonder why it's taken so long for the new episodes to see the light of day. Well, series creator Robert Kirkman spoke about the delay just recently and, somehow, his response has me even more excited for the upcoming season than I already was. 

The comic book writer and TV producer was on hand to answer questions fans have about Invincible Season 2 while appearing at San Diego Comic-Con. Inevitably, he had to acknowledge the obvious, which is the long gap between seasons. It's understandable that fans would want answers, especially considering how quickly the Steven Yeun-led series was renewed after its premiere. Ultimately, while talking to Collider, Kirkman offered a completely logical reason as to why it took so long to produce: 

Robert Kirkman and crew are supposedly pushing the boundaries of animation with Invincible Season 2, and that notion has me incredibly excited to see the new episodes when they're released. Kirkman's declaration is actually saying a lot, too. I mean, just think about the brilliance of the first batch of episodes and the recently released Atom Eve standalone special (all of which are streamable with a Prime Video subscription now).

Aside from the creative aspect of the process, there's another key element that factored into the matter. Robert Kirkman went on to explain that COVID lockdowns and precautions began right as the team was finishing up Season 1 and that it took time to figure out how to make the new installments. For example, the crew had to figure out how to get its animation team all on the same page since most of them could not work in groups in the same room as they normally would. Thankfully, they were able to nail down a workflow.

There's also another reason I'm currently ecstatic. While the wait for new season has been long, such a gap isn't going to become commonplace. The Renfield producer confirmed that the stretch of time between Seasons 2 and 3's releases will be shorter. One would think that this is possible since the crew has seemingly streamlined the creative process. It's music to my ears, and I'm sure others feel the same.

Season 2 will pick up with young superhero Mark Grayson after he discovered that the true mission of his father, Omni-Man (Nolan Grayson). He, like viewers, learned that the dear old dad planned to conquer humanity and its heroes in order to pave the way for the expansion of the Viltrum Empire. When Mark refused to join his father's cause, Nolan nearly beat him to death while killing thousands of others in the process. The older Grayson eventually departed Earth in tears, though, seemingly torn between the love for his wife and child and his mission. 

While we don't know when Nolan will return to Earth, it's clear that the world has not forgotten the father and son's skirmish. In addition, there will be plenty of people keeping a closer eye on Mark (and his fellow heroes) now that it's clear what kind destruction an unchecked hero of his bloodline can do. Check out the trailer below:

Season 1 of Invincible touted a cast stacked with talented stars, and the list for the new season -- featuring Tatiana Maslany, Peter Cullen, Sterling K. Brown and more -- is even more impressive. I'm unbelievably excited to see what's in store after this long wait and even more excited that I won't have to sit around and twiddle my thumbs quite as long for S3. Here's hoping the show maintains its quality and that Robert Kirkman and co. can expand on the comic book-adapted mythos in compelling ways.

Catch the premiere of Invincible Season 2 on Prime Video on Friday, November 3rd. Now, would be a perfect time for fans to revisit Season 1, especially if they need a reminder of just how brutally amazing the series is. Also, check out the 2023 TV schedule for information on other major premieres.

Nicolas Cage is back sinking his teeth into the vampire subgenre (the first time since Vampire's Kiss) with his upcoming horror-comedy movie Renfield. This time the iconic actor stars as the legendary vampire Count Dracula, but he's not just any Dracula but the Dracula, who was initially immortalized on the silver screen by the late Bela Lugosi. However, if the wild first trailer is anything to go off of, it’s clear this take on the classic vampire is far from the black and white 1931 version that popularized the legendary bloodsucker. Renfield, directed by the Lego Batman Movie’s Chris McKay, carries a hard R with it, and in a new interview, he and writer Robert Kirkman explained why they wanted that rating for their addition to the ‘slapstick’ horror genre.

The upcoming vamp movie explores the complicated and toxic relationship between the Count and his assistant, the titular Renfield, played pitch-perfectly by Nicholas Hoult. After years of bringing victims for his master to feed on, Hoult’s character decides to quit his life of servitude, and is determined to break free from his immortal master. Though it has a funny premise, the new flick is not for the faint of heart, boasting violence, buckets of gore, strong language throughout, and some drug use. In a recent interview with Universal Pictures (via SyFy), McKay explained that he wanted to make the film a worthy addition to the “splatstick” horror category. The filmmaker said: 

The Walking Dead and Invincible creator Robert Kirkman’s original screen story outline inspired the script for the latest comedic take on the mythical horror monster. He said that he shares a similar opinion as McKay regarding the mix of scares and laughs present in the movie. Kirkman honed in on the importance of slapstick and how it helps keep the audience off balance, making the shocks more potent. He said:

Horror and comedy have had a long cinematic tradition of pairing well together. From 1914’s The Ghost Breaker to Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein,  to even television’s The Munsters and The Addams Family, scares and laughs have shared the screen since moving pictures began. Here are just a few more of the greatest horror comedies of all time that are worth checking out:

• The Cat and the Canary (1939)
• The Raven (1963)
• Tales from the Crypt (1972)
• The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
• Gremlins (1982)
• Chopping Mall (1986)
• Braindead (1992)
• Death Becomes Her (1992)
• The Frighteners (1996)
• Jennifer’s Body (2009)
• This is the End (2013)
• Happy Death Day (2017)
• Werewolves Within (2021)

It would appear that the filmmaking team behind Renfield knows precisely what they’re doing because, based on early reactions, audiences are in for a bloody good time. Many critics have pointed to the mix of disturbing violence and over-the-top comedy as a real standout at the cinema. In CinemaBlend’s review of Renfield, Mike Reyes called the movie a “charming and blood-soaked horror-comedy hybrid.” He also highlighted how evident it is that Nic Cage is living his best life getting to don the Count’s classic cape, which should be more than enough justification for fans who enjoy watching the actor let loose on the screen to crack open their wallets and buy a ticket!

Knowing exactly what they were going for, and the list of movies they'd be joining, seems to be paying off for the movie makers. They knew the tone and rating they were aiming for, and they had the wherewithal to hire the talent of Nicolas Cage, who is perfect for the role, to reintroduce Bram Stoker’s creation to the big screen. Maybe if Renfield is a success, Cage’s version of Dracula getting a solo movie could materialize. One can only hope! 

You can catch this violent and hilarious vampire flick when it hits theaters on Friday, April 14, and in the meantime, be sure to check out our 2023 Movie Release Schedule to see what other films are hitting the big screen soon. 

In 2021, Amazon Prime Video debuted the animated superhero series Invincible. The series won acclaim from viewers and critics alike while becoming a breakout hit for the streamer. Now, Invincible and The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman has found himself at the center of a lawsuit over rights and the source material.

In a lawsuit (via THR), comics colorist William Crabtree alleged that the Walking Dead impresario pursued him to give up his ownership stake in the popular comic series. Crabtree claimed he and Kirkman were co-creators of the landmark comic as he was the colorist for the first 50 issues. The suit alleges that, in agreeing to this arrangement, Crabtree lost the chance to generate any revenue connected to Invincible. The official documents from the lawsuit allege:

The lawsuit also made some allegations about Robert Kirkman's character, claiming that "Fraud and deceit has become a standard business practice for Kirkman" and "apparently where his true creative aptitude lies."

William Crabtree alleged he and Kirkman made an oral agreement in 2005 where the artist would get 20% of the comic’s sales profits and 10% of any revenue generated by any film or television project associated with the property. Crabtree claimed he continued to receive payment from Robert Kirkman regarding their agreement as Invincible went through two failed adaptations before it took off as an Amazon Studios series. He alleged that the Prime animated series was a turning point as Kirkman reportedly notified Crabtree about his stake in the series.

The lawsuit further alleges that he questioned Kirkman about receiving recurring royalties, and claimed that the Walking Dead creator referred to the payments as “bonuses.” Kirkman is accused of reducing Crabtree's contributions to “work-for-hire” status. William Crabtree is looking to regain his status as co-creator and receive any profits generated by the comic.

This lawsuit marked the second time Robert Kirkman and attorney Devin McRae, who is representing William Crabtree, have crossed paths regarding a comic book. In 2012, Kirkman was sued by artist Tony Moore over similar issues related to The Walking Dead. The two parties settled their disagreement for an undisclosed sum.

After becoming a breakout hit, Invincible was picked up for two more seasons with possibilities of a live-action movie. Of course, the series is one of the multiple comic adaptations Kirkman has going on, and the Walking Dead TV universe isn't going away even as the original series approaches its ending. As more developments come from this lawsuit, follow CinemaBlend for the latest news.

In 2019, many years after he lost out on the opportunities to play Spider-Man and Batman, Jake Gyllenhaal finally made his comic book movie debut in Spider-Man: Far From Home, where he played Quentin Beck, a.k.a. Mysterio. While it remains to be seen if Gyllenhaal’s villainous character is indeed dead in the Marvel Cinematic Universe or if he’ll come back with a vengeance in Spider-Man: No Way Home, the actor has already lined up another comic book movie. And along with his traditional acting duties, Gyllenhaal will also be working behind the scenes on this project.

Jake Gyllenhaal has signed on to produce and star in Oblivion Song, the film adaptation of the same-named comic book series by The Walking Dead and Invincible creator Robert Kirkman and artist Lorenzo De Felici. For those unfamiliar the Image Comics series, Oblivion Song takes place in a reality where one decade ago, a portion of Philadelphia, along with 300,000 of its citizens, were lost in an event called Oblivion. The government tried to rescue these people, but eventually gave up, But ever day, a man named Nathan Cole ventures out to try and find those who are still living in this apocalyptic hellscape.

While the Oblivion Song movie doesn’t have a director attached yet, Jake Gyllenhaal will produce through his Nine Stories film banner with Riva Marker, while over at Skybound Entertainment, Robert Kirkman will produce alongside David Alpert, Bryan Furst and Sean Furst. Brian Oliver and Bradley Fischer are also producing through New Republic Entertainment, which optioned the film rights to Oblivion Song. This is the first entry in a first-look deal between New Republic and Nine Stories. Here’s what Marker had to say about Oblivion Song moving forward (via Deadline):

This marks yet another Robert Kirkman property being adapted in live-action, although unlike The Walking Dead, Invincible and Outcast, we’ll see Oblivion Song brought to life as a movie rather than on television. Kirkman noted in his own statement that he and his team can’t wait to see Jake Gyllenhaal “bring this character to life on the big screen.” Whether or not Oblivion Song does indeed launch a franchise is a question that won’t be answered for a long time, but at least this gives Gyllenhaal the chance to stretch his broaden his reach in the comic book movie realm beyond the Spider-Man film series.

Jake Gyllenhaal can next be seen in the Antoine Fuqua-directed Netflix movie The Guilty, which premieres on September 24. Following that, Gyllenhaal will star in Michael Bay’s Ambulance, which opens on February 18, 2022, but since the actor is also attached to projects like The Division, it’s hard to say when he’ll start working on Oblivion Song. In any case, we’ll keep you apprised on how it’s developing as more updates come in.

Seemingly one of the busiest creative minds out there is The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman, whose career with Image Comics and Skybound Entertainment knows no bounds. With both the ever-expanding Dead franchise and Invincible on the small screen, and movie takes on Invincible and the Dracula character Renfield heading to the big screen, Kirkman already has his hands extremely full outside of the various monthly comic books he's writing. But what if he had all the time in the world and could focus on adapting other comic book creators' works as TV shows?

Just such a question was posed to Robert Kirkman during his solo panel for this year's Comic-Con@Home panel, and he gave a solid trio of answers that would all earn chefs' kisses if they were to be adapted for TV. And maybe even a something more lewd when it comes to the first choice below.

Sex Criminals by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky

First published in September 2013, Sex Criminals is a hilarious and smart raunch-fest from the award-winning writer Matt Fraction (Hawkeye, Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen) and artist Chip Zdarsky (Daredevil, Stillwater). Having concluded in 2020 with issue #69 (naturally, even though it's actually only the 31st issue), Sex Criminals is essentially about Suzie and Jon, a mostly-couple that independently discovered they had time-freezing abilities post-orgasm, and how they decide to use those abilities. The series won all kinds of awards during its run, and was nominated for plenty more, and it was the first comic series that Robert Kirkman mentioned. In his words:

While one might not think a show with a central location called "Cumworld" and an antagonist named Kegalface would successfully deliver deep storytelling and engaging characters, Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky can make any kind of plot seem addictive. A Sex Criminals TV show was in development for a time around 2015, with Fraction having a deal with Universal TV at the time, but nothing substantial ever came out of it. So obviously the ball is now in Robert Kirkman's court.

The Fix by Nick Spencer and Steve Lieber

Similar in balls-to-the-walls debauchery to Sex Criminals is the NSFW crime caper The Fix, from writer Nick Spencer (Morning Glories, Captain America: Sam Wilson) and artist Steve Lieber (Whiteout, Civil War: Frontline). Anyone familiar with Robert Kirkman's Die! Die! Die! will feel right at home with the crooked cops Roy and Mac, the dog Pretzels, and the increasingly convoluted high-profile cases they're investigating. The provocative dialogue and sequences aren't for everyone, but Kirkman would be down to spin the self-aware story into a TV series. (In a perfect world, anyway.) Here's how he put it:

Definitely not the kind of comic book adaptation that would end up on CBS or Hallmark Channel, that's for sure. Not that Robert Kirkman is known for working anywhere but censor-lite cable networks anyway. Not with the way he likes to make characters' eyeballs burst from their heads.

Savage Dragon by Erik Larsen

First introduced within the comic Graphic Fantasy back in 1982, the character Savage Dragon is the superpowered humanoid cop creation of writer and artist Erik Larsen, and didn't technically take on his proper moniker until the self-titled 1992 comic launch at Image. And it makes sense why Robert Kirkman would want to deliver a full-on Savage Dragon TV series, since the character showed up within Kirkman's Invincible comic series for the "Invincible War" arc. Here's how Kirkman put it:

Unlike the other two comics listed above, Savage Dragon actually did get its own TV show back in 1995 as a two-season animated series on USA. Also unlike the above choices, Savage Dragon has a better shot of coming to fruition, as creator Erik Larsen has already claimed he would allow Robert Kirkman to use the character within Invincible if need be. So what's to say he wouldn't also be totally into turning his creation into a totally new TV show?

Again, each of these ideas will likely lead to nothing, since Robert Kirkman is constantly busy with one project or another. And since he was a big part of Telltale's The Walking Dead character Clementine getting her own upcoming graphic novel, I can't argue with that workhorse behavior. But it certainly is nice to dream. Especially before the nightmares come to the Walking Dead protagonists when Season 11 kicks off the first of three eight-episode bursts on Sunday, August 22, at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Robert Kirkman's Invincible recently wrapped up an extremely deadly Season 1 over on Amazon Prime, and at least two more seasons are thankfully on the way. Beyond all the show's dark and violent twists that likely came as little surprise to those familiar with Kirkman's work, Invincible's stellar voice cast featured a slew of different actors from the comic superstar's other acclaimed series, The Walking Dead. So with Seasons 2 and 3 looms on the horizon, I'm not alone in wondering if it's possible Kirkman will welcome TWD vet Andrew Lincoln in future episodes?

That's a question only Kirkman can answer, of course, and the Invincible creator did thankfully share his thoughts with ComicBook.com on whether or not we can one day expect to hear Andrew Lincoln and other The Walking Dead alums who weren't featured in Invincible's first season. Robert Kirkman not only gave an answer on Lincoln, but also dropped a few other big names in his response.

Perhaps it's not surprising that Robert Kirkman would like to bring all the Walking Dead heavy hitters that he can get into Invincible, especially after already featuring so many in Season 1. Steven Yeun is the voice of lead Mark Grayson, Khary Payton voices Black Samson, and further roles were voiced by the likes of Ross Marquand, Lauren Cohan, Sonequa Martin-Green, Chad Coleman, Michael Cudlitz, and Lennie James. That's already a ton of talent from the AMC series, but as Kirkman noted, there are still some key players that could be called upon for comic characters we haven't met yet.

As cool as such a large-scale reunion of The Walking Dead on Invincible would be, it's still worth noting that this series has a stellar voice cast even without everyone from the zombie apocalypse. The full cast list is a who's who of Hollywood actors that includes J.K. Simmons, Sandra Oh, Walton Goggins, and Mahershala Ali, and while there are really so many more names I could drop beyond that (like Mark Hamill), let's just leave it at the fact that this may be the most star-studded voice cast for any animated series that doesn't involve alcoholic horses.

The good news is that with another 2 seasons on the way, one would think there will be plenty of opportunities to introduce new characters that could potentially be voiced by Andrew Lincoln and others. Provided any of those Walking Dead vets have room in their busy schedules to contribute their voices - such as, I dunno, that Walking Dead movie that is seemingly taking forever to come together - I don't think it'll be too much of a problem for Amazon to sign off on it all. Honestly, I think Lincoln would be a good voice for a Viltrumite, though after Season 1, I'm not sure I want to see more of those things anytime soon.

Binge all of Season 1 of Invincible over on Amazon Prime Video. For those that haven't had a chance to check it out yet, I highly recommend it to anyone who grew up with animated shows like Justice League or Batman Beyond because this show really has a lot of that energy, but is also very much for mature audiences.

Spoilers below for The Walking Dead's official Season 10 finale, "Here's Negan," so be warned!

The extended six episodes from The Walking Dead Season 10 have added up to a grab bag of character development, slow-burn world-building and one-off introductions. One of those temporary characters gave much-needed depth to Daryl's emotional journey, while the other gave much-needed depth to the backstory between Jeffrey Dean Morgan's Negan and his wife Lucille, as portrayed in the finale by Morgan's real-world wife Hilarie Burton. Thankfully for all, Burton and the Walking Dead creative team brought Lucille to life in a way that far exceeded Robert Kirkman's original comic book character.

With the entire episode dedicated to present-day Negan reflecting on his ups and downs with Lucille both before and during the walker-pocalypse, The Walking Dead really honed in on some very tender and human moments between Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Hilarie Burton, much of which was absent in the source material. Maybe they're not a top-tier TWD couple from this episode alone, but it was convincing nonetheless. So let's break down some of the biggest ways the live-action Walking Dead surpassed its comic predecessor in bringing Lucille to audiences.

Hilarie Burton's Lucille Is A Fully Rounded Character

To be perfectly honest, The Walking Dead TV show wouldn't have had to do THAT much with Lucille to give her more dimensions than she had on the page, where she was largely a silent entity limited to specific moments. Readers learned enough to build opinions on, though detailers were shown almost entirely through Negan as a prism, shading things accordingly. Hilarie Burton's Lucille doesn't suffer any of the comic's limitations, and gets to live, breathe, talk, smoke weed, and geek out on James Bond with all the agency the character deserves.

Because these extra Season 10 installments were the first to be produced with COVID-safe protocols, they're more limited in storytelling tactics than others. Still, I think "Here's Negan" gave audiences a near-perfect amount of Lucille, and was able to justify both Negan's deep affection for her and his tortured memories surrounding her cancer diagnosis and final days. While the comic book did a fine enough job of showing readers how twisted up Negan was over Lucille, the TV show effectively put viewers right in Negan's boots. Lucille deserved such a better life, but at least she was happy some of the time.

Lucille Made Negan Relatable Without Exalting Him

One of the bigger challenges inherent in telling The Walking Dead's ongoing tale, both on TV and in the comics, is convincingly turning Negan from a vulgar, despicable and unforgivable monster back into an actual human being. All without losing any of the elements that made him such a fascinating beast to watch in the first place. While it's entirely possible that comic mastermind Robert Kirkman purposefully limited Lucille's presence in the comic book so that he readers could keep that emotional distance intact, it's been clear for a while that Angela Kang's creative team wanted to allow Jeffrey Dean Morgan's Negan a more earnest attempt at redemption and compassion. (Even if part of that redemption involved him banging Alpha, and it's now weirdly awesome to think about the connection between her and Lucille's bald heads.)

However, for all that The Walking Dead added layers to its former villain with "Here's Negan," the episode doesn't attempt to whitewash or ignore Negan's sins. Indeed, the TV series keeps the comic version's infidelity intact, revealing he was engaging in an affair the day that Lucille was diagnosed, as well as his violent, bullying nature. But viewers have seen Negan do so many awful things that there wasn't much reason to hammer those points home. If anybody deserves to get hot sauce burning their junk like Jeffrey Dean Morgan recently did, it's Morgan's own murderous character.

Lucille Died By Her Own Accord

In The Walking Dead's comic book, Lucille succumbs peacefully to her cancer in a hospital, which is arguably not the worst way she could have shuffled off this mortal coil. But things go quite differently for Hilarie Burton's character in the TV show, since she never made it to the hospital and was being cared for at home. Once her medicine ran out and it became extremely clear that the end was nigh, Lucille waited until Negan left for an ill-advised scavenging trip and took matters into her own hands, ending her life with a combination of pills and a plastic bag. Not the coolest thing for Negan to arrive home to, to say the least, and arguably one of this show's most powerful deaths for such a limited-use character.

Once Lucille rose up again as a walker in the comic book, Negan was too unsettled to put her down, and instead found a 13-year-old kid to do the dirty work. He's also unable to go through with killing her directly in the TV show, especially after ripping open the plastic bag and seeing her walker-fied visage. Though Negan curiously wrapped his to-be-iconic baseball bat in barb wire before going back into their house, he didn't appear to actually use it on Lucille before burning the entire house down. Probably better for his already fractured psyche that way.

Lucille's Memory Changes Up Negan And Maggie's Eventual Confrontation

The wraparound story for "Here's Negan" is how The Walking Dead quietly hinted at more comic book differences coming in the eleventh and final season debuting on AMC later this year. Carol made it clear that, despite Negan's efforts in helping take down the Whisperers and rebuilding Alexandria, he's not welcome in the community. And it's once he's been banished that he has visions of his leather-wearing persona and starts delving even deeper into his dark past. By the end, Negan appeared to have found closure regarding Lucille, which would normally be a good thing, except it inspired him to return to Alexandria to defend himself. And there was something a little too unhinged about that sparkle in his stare when he locked eyes with Maggie.

Negan was indeed sent out to live freely on his own by Rick in the Walking Dead comic book, where he did indeed come to mental terms with Lucille both as a wife and a weapon. But on the page, Negan is tracked by Dante and Maggie, who eventually paid a visit with the initial purpose of killing him. However, after Maggie heard him beg for death as a release from his loneliness, she decided that having him live with his misery was a punishment worse than death, and she spared him. Clearly the TV show is already setting up something different by having Negan return to Alexandria outright, which will no doubt lead to something unexpected when he and Maggie finally have it out in Season 11.

The Walking Dead is now heading for another months-long hiatus, with Season 11 set to debut on AMC and AMC+ at some point in the summer. The franchise isn't missing a beat, though, with Fear the Walking Dead returning for the back half of its critically acclaimed Season 6 on Sunday, April 11.

Spoilers are down below for the already released episodes of Amazon's new superhero series Invincible, so be warned!

It's somehow been over 18 years since Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker first delivered Invincible to an unsuspecting and superhero-filled world. While it didn't revolutionize the genre in the way that The Walking Dead helped spark a zombie boom, Invincible remained a consistently fun, engaging and brutal series throughout its 144 issues. Thankfully, Amazon's adult-animation adaptation is a worthy, bloody and star-studded counterpart to the source material, and Kirkman talked with CinemaBlend about that head-exploding premiere twist, as well as how bringing Invincible to TV compared to the Walking Dead process.

Though there had long been talks about various ways in which Invincible could expand beyond its comic origins, the animated Amazon series is the first of the projects to come to fruition, while the live-action take from Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg is very much still in the pipeline. And it sounds like the wait didn't exactly hurt the development process. On top of being older and having more informed hindsight than he had while co-creating AMC's The Walking Dead with Frank Darabont, Robert Kirkman noted that working from a completed storyline was an advantage he had with Invincible that wasn't possible with TWD. When I spoke with him during the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) aTVFest in February, he told me:

It may seem silly to point out that building a house from a blueprint is a lot more effective than coming up with designs as one works, but sometimes that kind of wisdom can only be learned through experience. It's not like Robert Kirkman would have put off the creation of the Walking Dead TV series for another nine years just so he could conclude the comic book first. But in having adapted TWD for TV before that comic was even half-over, Kirkman learned many of the ups and downs that come with balancing straightforward adaptations with completely new storylines and characters. And it sounds like he was able to put those lessons into practice with Invincible.

However, even though Invincible might be a more generally faithful iteration of its comic form than Walking Dead has been over time, that doesn't mean Robert Kirkman and his creative team are laying things out exactly as they went on the page. As the series premiere's final showdown between Omin-Man and the Guardians of the Globe proved, there are more surprises than meets the plopped-out eyeball.

Just ahead of Season 1's three-episode premiere on Amazon Prime, Robert Kirkman and Invincible's stars spoke with press, at which point I asked the creator about the premiere's ending revealing Omni-Man, Mark Grayson's dad, to actually be a villain. More specifically, I asked if having Red Rush's eyeball pop out of his head was a nod to Steven Yeun's infamous death scene on The Walking Dead. Here's how he answered:

Given that U.S. animated series rarely get as violent and bloody as their anime cousins, it was a disturbing breath of fresh air to watch that final fight in the premiere, as well as some of the bone-crunching fight scenes in later episodes. In some cases, those scenes are even more vicious to watch than Walking Dead's horror-driven moments, though obviously not completely, since Greg Nicotero's special effects and makeup on TWD are endlessly gross.

During our SCAD aTVFest conversation, I asked Robert Kirkman about Invincible's high levels of orifice-gouging violence, and whether or not anyone at Amazon had any advice about such things. Here's how he answered:

To be sure, had Invincible's first episode ended with Omni-Man killing the Guardians of the Globe in a car accident, or by injecting them with a slow-acting poison, it would not have made the same kind of mental dent that one gets from watching J.K. Simmons' character utterly decimate the team of superheroes. Viewers need to see him become a murderous monster to truly understand that yes, he is a murderous monster. But he'd never hurt Mark, right? RIGHT?

New episodes of Invincible drop on Amazon Prime Video every Friday, so make sure to keep your eyes on the prize before Red Rush starts putting his eyes on everything.

Back in 2017, it was announced that Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg would write, direct and produce a film adaptation of Robert Kirkman’s long-running Image Comics series Invincible. Four years later, Amazon Prime Video is running its Invincible animated series, and there hasn’t been any major updates about the movie’s progress. However, Kirkman clarified earlier this year that the Invincible movie is still in development, and he has a good idea of how it will move forward.

CinemaBlend’s own Nick Venable recently interviewed Robert Kirkman about the Invincible animated series, which kicked off its first season last week, and among the topics they discussed was how both Invincible projects are being developed simultaneously. Here’s what Kirkman had to say about the movie standing out from the TV show:

So if you were thinking there was a chance that The Walking Dead star Steven Yeun could also play the teenaged Mark Grayson in live-action, you’d best table those expectations. That said, it sounds like Robert Kirkman is game for some of the actors from the Invincible animated series to take part in the Invincible movie, whether it’s reprising their roles or playing different characters. There hasn’t been any castings announced for the movie yet, but with Seth Rogen still involved with making it, maybe there’s a scenario where he gets to play Allen the Alien again.

More importantly, Robert Kirkman clarified that the Invincible movie will not tell the exact same kind of story that’s unfolding on the Invincible animated series. Yes, both of these projects are relying on the same source material, but the point of an adaptation is to blend new material with the elements from the original story that can be easily translated for a different medium. Plus, Invincible Season 1 is comprised of eight episodes ranging from 42-48 minutes, while the Invincible movie will likely end up being around two or two and a half hours. Obviously the cinematic tale wouldn’t be able to cover as much ground as what’s happening on the small screen, but conversely, it’ll deliver a live-action blockbuster spectacle.

It remains to be seen when we’ll learn more about what’s being planned for the Invincible movie, but at least fans of the property can take comfort knowing it’ll embark down a different creative path and not simply rehash what’s being done in the animated series, though still share similarities. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more updates on the Invincible movie’s progress, and if you’re interested in watching the Amazon show, new episodes drop on Fridays.

As the creator behind The Walking Dead, Oblivion Song, Invincible and several other must-read comic books, Robert Kirkman knows how to weave a tale that keeps his audience's attention spans on the hook. Even though TWD's comic book series has ended, with the TV show's final stretch already confirmed, the zombie-filled universe continues to expand on AMC and beyond, and Kirkman put the Walking Dead fandom on high alert by teasing the highly requested return of franchise character Clementine.

While promoting the recent Amazon debut of the star-studded Invincible animated series, Robert Kirkman took part in a Reddit AMA, where fans put him through the usual grinder asking about every project under the sun, from the Rick Grimes movies to his general inspirations. But when one fan offered up the punctuation-free request of "Clementine pls," Kirkman's two-word answer sent jolts to my brain:

While no angelic choirs came out after I read that, I could feel the presence where they once were. For many, Clementine sits within the Mount Rushmore of Walking Dead franchise characters, despite not coming from the comic book source material or the AMC TV series. Voiced impeccably by Melissa Hutchison, Clementine first appeared in Telltale Games' The Walking Dead and returned in several of that game's sequels, cementing her importance within the fandom. She last appeared in the fifth game of the series, titled The Final Season, but fans were already clamoring for Clementine to join the live-action universe long before that.

Thankfully, while those two words above were definitely enough to reignite my hopes that Clementine will one day return, they weren't the only words that Robert Kirkman devoted to the issue. Granted, he didn't share any concrete details or anything, because such is not his way, but he did double-down with another teasy line for anyone who might have thought he was just trolling hopeful fans. When asked if Clementine would be back for another video game, Kirkman said:

One might think that Robert Kirkman would be slightly more positive, even if still vague, about Clementine's video game future if that was indeed the route that Skybound (and others) wanted to go with her. Like, I know he wouldn't offer up major details, but I'd expect even just a tip of the hat to the medium, since that's where people would expect to see her the most.

As such, I'm keen to think that The Walking Dead TV show will find a way to work her into Season 11 with The Commonwealth, possibly with plans on giving her a full-fledged spinoff that could tie back into the video game storyline and characters. On the flip side, they could just give Clementine her own spinoff without even adding her into the flagship TV narrative, or even bring her into Andrew Lincoln's world for the Rick Grime movies. On the flip-flip side, Clementine might get her own standalone comic series. The sky is the limit when it comes to characters like this.

While waiting to hear more about Clementine, The Walking Dead has yet to wrap up Season 10 with its big finale centering on Negan's backstory. If there was ever a character to serve as the fourth corner of the Judith-Negan-Lydia square, it's Clem.

Since The Walking Dead debuted on AMC back in 2010, the apocalyptic drama has only continued to expand. In addition to the flagship series, there are two spinoffs airing. Additionally, fans are eager to see the developing Rick Grimes movie, which is expected to have a full theatrical run. While we wait to see Andrew Lincoln play his signature character, creator Robert Kirkman addressed how the film will be different from his run on the small screen.

Andrew Lincoln's Rick Grimes was the undisputed protagonist of The Walking Dead before he was written off in Season 9. But his final scene set up his eventual transition to the big screen, as we saw Jadis/Anne rescue him and take him on a helicopter to places unknown. The movie will mark the franchise's debut in theaters, and Robert Kirkman teased its contents, saying:

While poking fun about the current state of the entertainment industry, this tease about the Walking Dead movie is sure to thrill long-time fans of the zombie series. Namely because we'll be getting such a deep dive into Rick Grimes' psyche. And it's probably going to get dark.

Robert Kirkman's comments to ComicBook definitely makes sense for Walking Dead fans who are caught up with the current season. While the series was always an ensemble project, this became especially true once Rick was written off. The bonus Season 10 episodes are each focused on a small group of survivors, highlighting how many characters we're currently following.

Considering Rick Grimes flew away from Alexandria on a mystery helicopter, there's no telling where the Walking Dead movie will take Andrew Lincoln's signature character. Robert Kirkman is teasing how different of a story it'll be, so the sky's the limit. And if Rick's movie is successful, perhaps we'll get more entries on the big screen.

Indeed, The Walking Dead did seemingly set up another big screen appearance for Danai Gurira's Michonne. Earlier in Season 10, Michonne found out that Rick was alive and departed to try and find her apocalyptic husband. But given the the show's time jump, it seems unlikely that she'll appear in the Rick Grimes movie. Although if she did, the fans would no doubt be thrilled.

It's currently unclear when The Walking Dead movie will begin filming, but it's in active development. In the meantime, check out our 2021 release list to plan your next movie experience.

Spoilers below for the latest episode of The Walking Dead, titled "Splinter," so be warned!

With only a handful of episodes left in its extended tenth season, The Walking Dead reconnected audiences with Paola Lázaro's Princess, and while Episode 1020 seemingly also reconnected everyone with Josh McDermitt's Eugene, Khary Payton's Ezekiel and Eleanor Matsuura's Yumiko, we eventually learned that wasn't exactly the truth. With "Splinter," The Walking Dead went all Fight Club on fans and completely changed things up from Robert Kirkman's comic book for both Princess and the introduction of the Commonwealth's soldiers.

Let's take a closer look at how AMC's The Walking Dead and showrunner Angela Kang changed things up from the comics with its latest episode, starting with a deeper look at how post-apocalypse life has affected Princess' mental issues.

How Princess' Story Changed From The Walking Dead Comics

When the credits started up at the end of "Splinter," it wasn't entirely clear how much of what we'd seen during the episode actually happened, with the episode's big twist revealing Princess to be an extremely unreliable narrator, as it were. In the first act, Princess unveiled more of her backstory with "Yumiko," which involved some of the abuses she suffered from her parents. Through that information, the comic and TV characters actually did share a big, if sad, connection, since Princess had quite the brutal past in the source material.

However, Princess' story veered off course from there, as it was shown later in the episode that each one of her interactions with her new friends – from talking to Yumiko and Eugene to having Ezekiel break into her train car – was all a figment of her imagination. And by all means, it was quite a wild shock to witness, with Princess coming full-circle on her realization after beating the piss out of one of the Commonwealth soldiers that set off her PTSD-esque reactions.

The comic book made a point of showing Princess to be initially confused over whether or not Michonne and the other new people in her life were actually just hallucinations. But the TV show obviously took that idea to the next level by actually showing her having full-blown hallucinations. Not even just the conversations she had, either. She completely hallucinated leaving the train car and hiding out from soldiers by hanging onto the side of it. That takes some true disassociation, although the potential for such a mental break was technically hinted at during Princess' introduction in the way she purposefully posed all the walkers in the area.

In any case, The Walking Dead's TV creative team certainly deepened Princess' story by adding unexpected layers to her already twisted psyche. While her comic counterpart certainly had issues with being in large groups, and preferred to be alone, she was never shown to be particularly unhinged in the ways that Princess behaved in "Splinter." It's certainly possible she might have gone over the deep end had she experienced this kind of situation on the page, but who knows? In any case, it'll be interesting to see if and how this (and that ominous-looking lineup) play out through the show's final season.

How The Walking Dead Changed The Commonwealth's Introduction From The Comics

While it's true that TV viewers have yet to actually step metaphorical foot inside the long-awaited comic book "safe" haven known as The Commonwealth, The Walking Dead has already shaken things up from Robert Kirkman's original tale with our first somewhat extended look at the Commonwealth Army. In the comic, the soldiers immediately take the protagonists in for questioning – an element the TV show has already teased for Season 11 – and Eugene is initially the standoffish one about giving up information, since he's so invested in finally meeting Stephanie. It's not the most ideal situation, but it's also a largely non-violent and non-confrontational one.

In the TV show, however, the Commonwealth Army is shown to be quite a bit more violent when the soldiers first come across Princess, Eugene, Ezekiel and Yumiko. At least, assuming what we saw via Princess' flashback moments was authentic. Viewers saw both Yumiko and Princess being handled quite violently, which wasn't the case in the comics. Princess clearly wasn't very dependable with that whole "following the rules" thing, not that it meant she deserved to get roughed up or anything. Of course, beating the crap out of that one soldier definitely didn't put her on anyone's good side, so it certainly isn't a good thing that the episode ended with the protagonists in hoods.

Even though the Commonwealth Army's introduction on the TV show didn't feature any gigantic game-changing twists, it could definitely have major ramifications in the immediate future. If The Walking Dead is reversing course on The Commonwealth's relatively amicable first appearance in the comic, that could make for a very different arc for the TV show to wrap things up with. The narrative was already going to be extremely different in respects to all things Rick Grimes-related, since Andrew Lincoln isn't around to share the same fate as his comic counterpart, and the live-action TV drama also can't properly adapt Michonne's reunion with her daughter from the comics. But I still somewhat expected The Commonwealth's early TV days to be similar in nature, though that might not be the case at all depending on how things play out from here.

AMC's The Walking Dead still has two episodes left to go in Season 10, with some of Negan's origin story still yet to come in the season finale, which will also make some changes from the comics.

With his Walking Dead universe is currently going strong with three different shows, even with the flagship series destined to end in 2022, Robert Kirkman will soonishly branch out with another high-profile TV series based on his excellent comic book series Invincible. Not only did the adult-animation project reunite Kirkman with former Walking Dead star Steven Yeun as the teen superhero Mark Grayson, but the cast features a host of other TWD vets, as well as Mark Hamill, J.K. Simmons, Sandra Oh and more. And now we can celebrate The Flash's Ezra Miller joining future Blade lead Mahershala Ali and six other actors for Invincible's first season.

Invincible, which Robert Kirkman crafted with Cory Walker and Ryan Ottley, follows Steven Yeun's Mark as he comes to terms with his superhero legacy as the son of Earth's most powerful superhero, Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons). Of course, as Mark hones his powers and learns more about superhero life, he faces many complications that threaten his familial relationships. Without getting into too many details, let's take a look at all the new actors that have been added to Invincible's cast, which also includes Seth Rogen, Mae Whitman, Walton Goggins, Jason Mantzoukas, Zazie Beetz, Gillian Jacobs, Kevin Michael Richardson, Andrew Rannells, and more.

Mahershala Ali (Titan)

Having already played the villainous Cornell "Cottonmouth" Stokes for Netflix' and Marvel's Luke Cage, Mahershala Ali is gearing up to become more heroic for the MCU's Blade reboot. (Not to mention he'd also voiced The Prowler for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.) For Invincible, Ali will be portraying the pompous and over-confident mostly-villain Titan, whose claim to fame is the power to encase himself in rock. Don't expect him to be a big bad, though.

Clancy Brown (Damien Darkblood)

Clancy Brown has been winning over genre audiences since first popping up in Buckaroo Banzai and Highlander, and he's been in a slew of superhero TV shows over the years. He appeared in The Flash and both Daredevil and The Punisher for live-action, and has voiced Lex Luthor, Mr. Freeze, Bane, Rhino, Mister Sinister, General Zartok, Red Hulk, and many more characters in a wide variety of animated TV shows and direct-to-video features. For Invincible, Brown will voice the demon detective Damien Darkblood, who comes up from Hell every so often to investigate superhero-related matters.

Nicole Byer (Vanessa & Fiona)

Comedian Nicole Byer is perhaps best known as the host of Netflix's hilarious cooking competition Nailed It, but she's also a podcast queen and has appeared in a ton of different shows and movies in recent years. From Bad Hair to Brooklyn Nine-Nine to A Black Lady Sketch Show to The Unicorn, Byer covers the comedy gamut, and she'll presumably be just as hilarious when she shows up in Invincible as the characters Vanessa and Fiona.

Jeffrey Donovan (Machine Head)

Jeffrey Donovan has headed up various TV series in the past 15 years, from Burn Notice to Fargo to Shut Eye, and has also boosted his filmography with movies such as both Sicario flicks, Lucy in the Sky, and the upcoming Guy Ritchie actioner Wrath of Man. On the comic book front, Donovan voiced Steve Trevor for 2019's animated DC movie Wonder Woman: Bloodlines, but he'll be flipping to the villainous side for Invincible, in which he'll play Machine Head, the super-strong and logic-minded crime boss who rocks a robotic head.

Jonathan Groff (Rick Sheridan)

Only time will tell if Jonathan Groff ends up returning to Netflix for Mindhunter Season 3, but the Hamilton and Glee vet will be lending his celebrated voice to Invincible as a character that sadly probably won't have any singing scenes. (Yes, Groff also voiced Kristoff in all things Frozen.) He'll be voicing Rick Sheridan, a schoolmate of Mark's who was turned into a cyborg. Interestingly, Rick is one of two gay characters within Invincible, so it's a good sign that the producers found a proper actor to fit the bill.

Jon Hamm (Steve)

Jon Hamm is seemingly one of the only actors left in Hollywood that has yet to take on some kind of a major superhero comic book role, although I guess one could count him being the narrator for the Marvel series Legion. On top of being seen in Top Gun: Maverick and Steven Soderbergh's HBO Max crime drama No Sudden Move, Hamm will be playing "Steve" in Invincible. No further details were given, but it's possible this Steve is Steven Erickson, a villain within the Global Defense Angecy, though that's not confirmed.

Djimon Hounsou (Martian Emperor)

When it comes to comic book projects, Djimon Hounsou is definitely no slouch. He's portrayed Korath the Pursuer in Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain Marvel, and the upcoming Disney+ animated series What If...?, and also appeared in the DC films Aquaman and Shazam! When he pops up in Invincible, Hounsou will be voicing the role of Martian Emperor, though it's not quite clear just yet if that is the Martian Man of the comic book, who was a member of the Guardians of the Globe, which would be a fun soundalike connection to his MCU role.

Ezra Miller (D.A. Sinclair)

Fans have been waiting ages to see Ezra Miller capitalize on his DC role as Barry Allen for The Flash, especially after he popped up in the Arrowverse's "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover. He'll be seen soon enough for the Justice League Snyder Cut release on HBO Max, and he'll play a different kind of protagonist for Invincible, where he'll voice the hermitic Upstate University scientist D.A. Sinclair, who created a group of robotic zombies called the Reainimen. And yes, maybe he had something to do with Rick Sinclair's roboticized transition.

The eight-episode first season of Invincible will debut on Amazon Prime Video in 2021, so stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more information as it becomes available. In the meantime, head to our Fall 2020 TV premiere schedule and our Winter and Spring 2021 TV rundown to see what new and returning shows are on the way in the near future.

Over the past few seasons of The Walking Dead, Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s Negan has become an overpowering force. His dark, charismatic, and brutal personality have made him quite the villain to reckon with. Since his character is so well known in the TV show and the comics, would he consider doing a Negan spinoff movie? Well, needless to say, he has some thoughts.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan has never shied away from expressing his love for the character of Negan. When asked what he thought of the Negan Lives comic and if he’d be up for a spinoff movie, here’s what he had to say:

Based on his comments during the TWD Universe Family Hangout during Comic-Con@Home 2020, it sounds like Jeffrey Dean Morgan is more than willing to bring his character into a feature-length story. And let's be honest, who wouldn't want to see the character make take center stage?

The Negan Lives comic was recently published on July 1, 2020, and centers on Negan being pushed out into isolation by a society that’s rebuilding. This premise lines up almost perfectly with the show so, with Negan on his own, it would make some sense to follow him in this new state.

Since Andrew Lincoln’s Rick Grimes, who now is practically legendary in the world of zombie stories, is getting one of his own spinoff movies, it feels fair to turn the tables and give Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s incredible villain a spinoff as well.

Believe it or not, according to Jeffrey Dean Morgan, there has been talk about doing just that. Last year, he confirmed that the idea was being discussed, though he added that they need to do it sooner rather than later because he’s only getting older at this point.

If a Negan spinoff movie does eventually happen, it would be interesting if they decided to put into theaters like the Rick Grimes movie. While Andrew Lincoln and his character Rick Grimes could likely draw a crowd for his heroics, Negan’s infamous reputation might be a harder sell for some fans.

But what do you think? Would you watch a Negan movie starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan? Let us know in the comments!

AMC's The Walking Dead has been a television sensation for a decade, expanding into two spinoffs on the network in the process. The apocalyptic drama is also expected to make its big screen debut with the untitled Rick Grimes movie. The developing film will see Andrew Lincoln reprise his iconic role, and it looks like Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman will also be intimately involved.

The Walking Dead started its life on the comics, with Robert Kirkman eventually working with Frank Darabont and AMC to adapt the story into a live-action television show. Kirkman is a producer on the show, and he recently revealed just how involved he'll be in the impending Rick Grimes movie. As he the comic book writer icon himself put it,

Well, this is exciting. It looks like The Walking Dead franchise's journey to the big screen will be guided by none other than Robert Kirkman himself. He's involved in the movie's development and writing, as the pressure is on for TWD to deliver on the silver screen. Although exactly what Kirkman and company have in store for Andrew Lincoln's character remains a mystery.

Robert Kirkman's comments come Comic-Con at home are sure to be encouraging for the countless Walking Dead fans out there curious about Andrew Lincoln's impending return to the franchise. Ever since Rick Grimes was written off of the AMC flagship series, the public has been eager to see how the character's journey will continue following his mysterious helicopter ride. And while filming hasn't begun, clearly there's a ton of work being done to the impending film project.

Andrew Lincoln left The Walking Dead early in Season 9, with Rick Grimes seemingly perishing while blowing up the bridge in between communities. But the final scene of that episode showed Pollyanna McIntosh's Jadis/Anne rescuing the protagonist and taking him onto a helicopter to places unknown.

Danai Gurira's Michonne was recently written off of The Walking Dead as well, as the sword wielding survivor departed Alexandria after learning Rick was alive. The Rick Grimes movie sounds like a great opportunity to reunite the two fan favorite characters on the big screen, although it's unclear if that'll happen in this first big screen debut. Only time will tell, but there are plenty of fans who are invested in both characters' continues journeys.

CinemaBlend will keep you updated on all things Walking Dead movie as details become public. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

A zombie apocalypse reunion is coming to Robert Kirkman's new show, with no fewer than six veterans of The Walking Dead assembling to tackle roles for Amazon's Invincible. The Walking Dead cast members range from those who were killed off years ago to those who are still alive and as well as can be in the zombie apocalypse, and they join the already-announced Khary Payton. So, who will be part of Invincible?

The new series will feature Lauren Cohan (The Walking Dead's Maggie Rhee) as War Woman, Chad Coleman (Tyreese) as Martian Man, the very red-headed Michael Cudlitz (Abraham) as Red Rush, Lennie James (Morgan, now on Fear the Walking Dead) as Darkwing, Ross Marquand (Aaron) as The Immortal & Aquarius, and Sonequa Martin-Green as Green Ghost. Khary Payton, who of course plays Ezekiel on The Walking Dead, is on board as Black Samson.

While so many current and former Walking Dead cast members coming back together for a Robert Kirkman project is exciting, it's worth noting that Invincible will be an animated series, with these zombie apocalypse alums lending their voices. That said, there are reasons why these actors are significant as additions to Invincible. The show will be based on Robert Kirkman's book of the same name, and Kirkman himself announced the castings at his Comic-Con@Home virtual panel. He shared:

The Invincible comic series hasn't achieved the same level of fame as Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead series even before the AMC series launched, but prospective viewers shouldn't assume that it's for kids just because the show is animated and just because it won't take place in the zombie apocalypse. The comics were known to get graphic, and adults are presumably the target demographic with this show.

The comics, which launched back in 2003 and ran for 144 issues before ending in February 2018, centered on Markus Grayson, the son of a novelist who is actually Omni-Man, an extraterrestrial superhero. Mark's own super powers begin to manifest when he turns 17, and he ultimately begins to train under his father under the superhero name of "Invincible."

An adaptation of Invincible has been in the works as far back as April 2017, although it was originally intended to be a movie with Seth Rogan and Evan Goldberg. Then, in June 2019, news broke that Robert Kirkman's Invincible would become a TV show at Amazon with an order for an eight-episode first season.

All of this said, potential viewers shouldn't count on seeing Invincible debut with so many members of the Walking Dead cast on board any time too soon. Neither Amazon nor Robert Kirkman have announced a premiere window, let alone a hard premiere date. Production halted through much of the entertainment industry earlier this year, but hopefully Invincible's status as an animated series means that production could continue.

For now, fans of Robert Kirkman adaptations can always check out The Walking Dead. The first nine seasons are currently available streaming on Netflix, and executive producer Angela Kang dropped some intriguing news about what remains of Season 10. You can find more viewing options now and in the coming weeks on our 2020 summer TV premiere schedule.

The Walking Dead has become a massive franchise since debuting on AMC back in 2010. Since then the show has become a sensation with two spinoffs and even plans for a movie. Said movie will bring back Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, and is intended for a full theatrical run. But with the entertainment industry at a halt amid global health concerns, fans are left wondering where the untitled project stands. Luckily now the movie's producers have spoken about the current state of The Walking Dead's first movie.

While in-person fan conventions have been cancelled this year, plenty of properties are crafting virtual events to break news. The Walking Dead comics come from Skybound Entertainment, which is hosting its own virtual convention called Skybound Expo. During this, Walking Dead producers David Alpert and Robert Kirkman addressed the status of the Rick Grimes movie. Alpert said:

Well, there you have it. It looks like the untitled Walking Dead movie is one of the many film projects on hold amid the pandemic. David Alpert was careful not to reveal anything specific about the highly anticipated project's development, but it's clearly being affected by current events. Namely because production couldn't start even if they wanted to.

The announcement of The Walking Dead movie and its impending theatrical release, especially since it'll star Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes. Lincoln was the leading actor of the apocalyptic drama for its first nine seasons, before departing the show in order to take new opportunities. But Rick will eventually be back, as he survived his near death experience and is taken onto a helicopter with Anne to unknown destinations.

Later in Skybound Xpo, Robert Kirkman reassured The Walking Dead fandom that Rick Grimes' movie is still being worked on, despite its inability to begin production. As he explained,

Well, that's a relief. Because while the public is in the dark regarding The Walking Dead movie's contents and eventual journey to theaters, the producers and studio are still working on Rick Grimes' big screen debut. The fans will just have to patiently wait as the ongoing global health concerns continue to halt TV and film productions alike.

Narratively (and geographically) it seems like Rick Grimes' movie could go seemingly anywhere. No details about the movie have been revealed, although actress Pollyanna McIntosh is expected to reprise her role as Jadis/Anne. Last season of The Walking Dead also seemingly opened the door for Danai Gurira to appear as Michonne, as she found out that Rick was alive and left Alexandria in search of her husband. Fingers crossed we get to see the Black Panther actress back on the big screen with her signature sword.

CinemaBlend will keep you updated on the Rick Grimes movie as details become public. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

While AMC's The Walking Dead is showing no signs of slowing down – at least beyond its currently delayed Season 10 finale – the comic book series was shockingly brought to a sudden end in 2019 when creator Robert Kirkman announced the Grimes family was hanging up its cowboy hats for good with issue #193. Now, Skybound has temporarily reversed that decision in order to deliver a final Walking Dead special issue that should clear up a huge question that the main story didn't clear up: what happened to Negan?

As readers of the comic book know, Negan basically dropped out of the main storyline in #174 (the issue before the "New World Order" arc introduced the Commonwealth community). Maggie had tracked Negan down, bent on killing him to avenge Glenn's murder, but changed her mind after seeing how willing Negan was to die. While some fans suspected he'd committed suicide after destroying Lucille #2, the then-final issue revealed that Negan was still alive in a mostly empty town following the time-jump, and that Carl regularly brought him supplies, though without any communication. The former villain made the briefest appearance in #193, as he was shown bringing flowers to his wife Lucille's grave.

Now, fans will get a chance to learn what Negan's life was like during that time jump, with Skybound Entertainment's upcoming released Negan Lives!, a one-off special issue that will likely serve as the last-of-the-last swan songs for the comic book side of the Walking Dead franchise. Here's the logline from the project's press release, which understandably doesn't give away very much.

The existence of this issue is quite interesting when it comes to the TV series, which will soon catch up with the point in the comics when Negan stopped showing up. Granted, Jeffrey Dean Morgan's Negan has taken some different narrative paths than his two-dimensional counterpart, and Morgan's popularity within the fanbase makes it seem unlikely that he'll be going away soon into Season 11. That said, Lauren Cohan's Maggie will make her long-awaited return in the delayed Season 10 finale, and she is NOT going to be happy to see Negan walking free as the "savior" who killed Alpha. She might very well kill him in cold blood, precisely as a way to flip the script on readers.

Check out the artwork for the Negan Lives! cover below.

Nothing says Negan like smirking through a face full of blood spatter. Thankfully, fans won't have to get splashed with anything in order to get a copy of Negan Lives! However, everyone WILL need to go to a comic book shop (on July 1) in order to purchase it – or have it delivered, of course – because Skybound will not be releasing the issue in digital form at all, only as a physical comic book.

There's even a somewhat charitable aspect here, just in case anyone thinks that Robert Kirkman and artist Charlie Adlard are just doing this for the money. As inspired by DC Comics execs' recent decision to cut ties with Diamond Distribution, in order to bring back the publisher-to-fans direct market, Kirkman and Adlard are granting comic shops 100% of the Negan Lives! proceeds. Here's how Kirkman explained it:

I don't know about you guys, but I had a blast with Here's Negan, even if the bouncing storyline wasn't the easiest format to get into. One can only assume that Kirkman will find at least one new sympathetic layer to add to the character, possibly while also giving him a new relationship of some kind. I'm hoping that Negan Lives! goes even deeper into the future than #193 did, so that we can realize that much more of this post-apocalyptic landscape.

Negan Lives! will hit comic book shelves on Wednesday, July 1, which isn't far away at all. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for news on when The Walking Dead will return with Season 10's Princess-filled finale, as well as what the filming schedule might look like for Season 11. In the meantime, our Summer 2020 TV Premiere schedule will clue you in on everything heading to the small screen very soon.

One of the many weird side effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is, surprisingly, panic buying paper towels and toilet paper. There’s no real reason why this has been happening, but when videos of consumers looking like a zombie horde straight out a George Romero movie start to pop up, you know the situation is serious. Serious enough that all it takes is the right noises added to such a video to draw the approval of The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman.

The story gets even better though, after watching the video for yourself:

Not only is this particular tweet funny because zombie guru Robert Kirkman got a kick out of this footage looking like something his comic-turned-TV show could even get behind, but the joke was actually furthered in its quality by none other than Uncut Gems masterminds, the Safdie Brothers.

As it turns out, they were the ones to share the video on Twitter, which Kirkman then reshared with a caption that lovingly referred to the footage as a clip from the 1978 classic Dawn of the Dead. Though you’d think even the people that shot the footage had that eventual idea, as when you look at the man standing in the middle of the voracious crowd, he’s waving his arms like a victim of a zombie attack.

While the world isn’t nearly as bad off as any of George Romero’s Dead saga would have you believe, it’s still pretty scary out there when people will tear into a pallet of paper products without a moment’s hesitation. Though if you were a tree, you might feel like every day of your existence was as horrific, even in the before times.

Assuredly, this is the sort of influence that Robert Kirkman and anyone working on the future films for The Walking Dead franchise might want to keep in mind when drafting those adventures. Life is always a pretty impressive inspiration for art, and once the normalcy of the world is presumably restored, it’s almost certain that these happenings will find their way into fiction.

Though if the Safdie brothers are in the mix and want to collaborate with Robert Kirkman, they could always cook up a short film about what would happen if Uncut Gems’ Howard Ratner would hold up in a confrontation with Andrew Lincoln’s silver screen bound hero Rick Grimes.

The Walking Dead continues to air on AMC, Sunday nights at 9 pm ET, Meanwhile, Uncut Gems is available on Digital HD, Blu-ray, and DVD, just in time for home audiences to dig into its tense, non-apocalyptic disasters. Keep checking in with CinemaBlend for more updates on movie and TV news, especially when it comes to how the spread of the coronavirus is shaking things up.

Robert Kirkman has famously never revealed the true reason behind The Walking Dead’s zombie outbreak and it seemed like a mystery that would never be solved. Until now, that is. While Kirkman, who co-created The Walking Dead comic book series the AMC show is based on, has dodged the question in the past, he recently gave a direct response. So, what was the reason behind the zombie apocalypse? Check out his response below!

While it’s nice to have some kind of answer, it’s best to take Robert Kirkman’s response with a grain of salt. A space spore being the conduit to a zombie apocalypse sounds facetious, but it’s hard to tell with Kirkman, who likes to toy with The Walking Dead fans. And keep in mind that the response was for The Walking Dead comics and not for the AMC series, so the TV show might come up with a different reason for the existence of zombies altogether.

Robert Kirkman concluded The Walking Dead’s comic book series without explaining the root of the zombie outbreak. So, it’s no wonder fans are frustrated by the lack of information and it’s impossible to tell whether Kirkman is being serious or not. In all fairness, The Walking Dead writer could have been making a reference to George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead, but it's unclear.

Regardless, his most recent response is better than nothing at all. Just a couple of years ago, Robert Kirkman’s answer to this question was much different, though he did joke that he could randomly reveal the reason for the zombie apocalypse one day. Was it a self-fulfilling prophecy? Maybe. Here’s what his response was on Tumblr:

Whether or not a space spore did cause the zombie outbreak, I believe Robert Kirkman is right about one thing. Learning what caused the influx of zombies won’t change the circumstances of The Walking Dead’s characters or any of the events that have occurred.

The Walking Dead Season 10 returns with new episodes on Sunday, February 23 at 9 p.m. ET on AMC. For more on what to watch in the interim, be sure to check out our complete 2020 midseason schedule for updated premiere dates and times.

With ratings trending downward and major stars exiting, it seems as though The Walking Dead's run is coming to an end. The comic which the series is based off of recently concluded, so one wouldn't be faulted for wondering if it was only a matter of time before the flagship show followed. However, for those thinking the show's cancellation is just around the corner, creator Robert Kirkman recently asserted (much like AMC did prior) that's not the case.

Robert Kirkman revealed during The Walking Dead's panel at San Diego Comic-Con that while his comic may have concluded, that does not mean the AMC drama is soon to follow. CinemaBlend was there to document Kirkman's pep talk to the series' most dedicated fans, who were led to believe that things are only just getting started.

As Robert Kirkman said during San Diego Comic-Con, The Walking Dead will not just die now that the comics are done. In fact, it's his belief that the show can live on and continue to expand the universe in spite of the high profile exits the series has suffered.

Even if The Walking Dead was cancelled, it's hard to believe the show's universe will outright die. Fear The Walking Dead is well-established at this point, and Andrew Lincoln is set to star in a Rick Grimes-centered movie headed to theaters. In short, the universe is already expanding and evolving, so it's hard to believe The Walking Dead itself won't find a new way to carry on in the years to come.

Especially with Robert Kirkman volunteering his services to help keep things rolling. Kirkman revealed he's going to be working with The Walking Dead's decision makers Scott Gimple and Angela Kang, and hopefully figuring out some exciting directions to take the series in the future.

Bottom line, don't worry about the future of The Walking Dead. The universe is going to live on in some form or another, and may even be around for decades to come. The question is, what will this universe look like down the line?

Expect The Walking Dead's Daryl And Negan To Work Together In Season 10

The Walking Dead returns for Season 10 in the fall, so stick with CinemaBlend for more details on it and other television and movie news.

Spoilers below for the latest and final issue of The Walking Dead comic book.

Despite Robert Kirkman's best laid plans, news leaked early that this week's issue of The Walking Dead, #193, would be its surprise grand finale. Jumping into the future to show fans how Carl and the rest of the surviving world were holding up in the years following Rick Grimes' anger-inspiring murder, the comic immediately made an argument for itself as one of the series' best. It also contained one of Kirkman's most informational and emotional Letter Hacks sections.

It was there where Robert Kirkman finally clued fans in on something he's kept close to the vest for years: how The Walking Dead comic was originally going to end. While the creator previously stated that he'd originally planned to end things soon after Rick's group arrived in Alexandria, Kirkman detailed the depressingly disturbing way the story could have capped off 121 issues earlier.

Dun-dun-dunnn! Is everyone following along with this timeline transition accordingly? Did you get a weird case of goosebumps seeing that this was an old statue of Rick? Well, it about to get worse.

Kirkman continued his bonkers Walking Dead admission:

Hot damn, Robert Kirkman's Plan A would have been a bummer of an ending on a magnitude comparable to the way Frank Darabont's The Mist ended for Thomas Jane's character. Perhaps interestingly, the timelines match up so that The Mist could feasibly have been a big inspiration while Kirkman was plotting future Dead stories and scripts in 2008-2009.

Maybe it wasn't related at all, but if so, it would strengthen Darabont's connection to the franchise, since he co-created the AMC drama. (And is currently still in the process of a big lawsuit about it.) It wouldn't change anything either way, of course, but it would make for a good tale.

In any case, if you thought that original ending sounded like a breath of stank-ass air, you're not alone. Robert Kirkman got very critical about it himself in The Walking Dead's final issue:

Robert Kirkman didn't explain why he'd even started formulating any kind of endings for The Walking Dead at that point in its run, but that might have also been a youth-related mistake. He did go on to say that for a long time, he wasn't capable of thinking the series would make it to its 100th issue.

At some point in the process, though, Kirkman realized that he actually had a lot more stories to tell about Rick, Michonne and the rest, to the point where he then fantastized about reaching 300 issues. However, Kirkman later landed at what the true Walking Dead ending would be, and he cited Charlie Adlard's cover for #142 as the inciting factor in realizing he no longer had that same abundance of stories to deliver.

After having had the pleasure of reading #193 minutes after its release, I cannot imagine going back to that point in The Walking Dead's storyline and discovering that the death of Rick and all of civilization happened between the panels and away from readers' eyes. That would have been a gut punch by way of the throat.

And it's not just because of all the amazing characters, locations and plotlines that followed Rick taking over Alexandria. But because even by that point, Rick Grimes had already established himself as the post-apocalypse's biggest hero, and he only got more wise and strategic in the years after first calling Alexandria home. It would have been devastating to discover that Rick's stellar leadership was still short of what was necessary for humanity to win out over the dead.

Okay, yes, it also would have been devastating in hindsight to never read the phrase "fucking fuck fuckity fuck fucker" or even be aware that it could exist. I wonder if Negan would have also gotten a statue in that original ending's timeline.

What Ended Up Happening With Negan In The Walking Dead's Final Comic

The Walking Dead's comic book series is now over, but Robert Kirkman definitely has more exciting books for fans to check out. (Invincible is downright superb.) Plus, the franchise will keep going strong for years in live-action, and Fear the Walking Dead is seemingly carving out its own road to the comic's mega-location The Commonwealth, assuming that's where all the helicopter people are coming from.

Major spoilers below for the entirety of The Walking Dead's comic book storyline.

After 16 years as one of the comic book industry's most dependable titles, Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard's The Walking Dead is now a done deal, with issue #193 serving as the series' swan song. And what an ending it was, particularly for Carl Grimes and the legacy of his father Rick. The issue also added a subtle punctuation mark to Negan's story that could hint at the character's TV future.

Let's set the mood with some table settings first, for those whose memories may be a tad rusty.

What Happened To Negan Before The Final Walking Dead Comic Issue?

Though the Walking Dead comic book and TV show were largely on the same page with Negan's incarceration story through most of Season 9, the AMC drama went off the grid with its snow-covered finale by having the leather-clad villain save Judith and Dog from freezing. In Comic-World, Negan only got out of his jail cell by escaping, thanks to a random dum-dum (Brandon Rose) looking to tip the Whisperers off about Rick's next moves.

Instead of doing that his rescue wished, Negan murdered Brandon and set about antagonizing Alpha and her Whisperers in his own Negan-esque ways. I'm not going to spoil the massive way that situation concludes, just in case the TV show heads down the same path, but suffice to say, Negan made the best case yet for his own redemption story.

Eventually, after the Whisperers are seemingly defeated, Rick agreed to let Negan live out on his own as a free man, but away from the inner walls of Alexandria and the other communities. As Rick, Eugene and others headed to Ohio to meet up with Stephanie and the Commonwealth community, Negan struck out on his own to return to the neighborhood where he buried his wife Lucille, for whom his deadly baseball bat was named.

At this point, Negan's journey was tracked by Dante, Maggie's first post-Glenn beau, who watched Negan bawl his eyes out at his late wife's grave. (Lucille had been hospitalized and succumbed to cancer during the onset of the zombie apocalypse.) It gets to the point where Negan can't even face walkers properly, and he decides he needs to replace his beloved bat Lucille, which got broken during his Whisperers ordeal.

It's at this point where Maggie returns to Negan's life with nothing but vengeance on her mind, and he would have completely understood if she'd taken his new Lucille and clubbed him with it. In fact, he tries to convince her to use her gun to put him out of his misery, but she finds a distinct contentedness with letting him live to wallow in his guilt and regrets now that he was sorry for his actions.

That was apparently just the confrontation that Negan needed, for he soon reversed judgment on his Lucille "resurrection" and threw his new bat into a fire. With an attitude that implied he was now able to completely move on from everything in his past – from killing his wife-as-a-walker to murdering Glenn to burning Dwight to everything in between – Negan headed off into the metaphorical sunset (though it was night) in issue #174.

From that point on, fans were left to wonder what happened to Negan for another 19 months and issues

What Happened To Negan In The Walking Dead's Final Comic Issue?

Robert Kirkman purposefully shocked the hell out of a lot of fans by suddenly (to everyone but his comic team) ending The Walking Dead with issue #193. What he did not do, however, was set fans up with big expectations for Negan's return. Rather, Kirkman has been surprisingly blatant with fans in the Letter Hacks section of Walking Dead issues, saying multiple times that Negan wouldn't be seen again. (He did facetiously imply in #192 that Negan would be the focus of the series following Rick's death.)

Indeed, the entirety of issue #193, which takes place years into the timeline's future, goes by without Negan making a big impact, though that doesn't mean Robert Kirkman skimped out on an update. Basically, Negan appears to be living off by himself, and seemingly in the same house where he was last seen begging Maggie to kill him. (The front door and window look the same, and there's a grave for Lucille beside a nearby tree.)

The final Walking Dead story focuses on Carl Grimes as fully grown adult who got in legitimate trouble for killing a "roamer" years after the central zombie threat had been eradicated. (Grown-up Hershel, the son of President Maggie, has a weirdo traveling sideshow with walkers as his entertainment.) Carl, married to Sofia and father to a young girl named Andrea, briefly goes on the run to bring supplies to those in the surrounding areas, including Jesus, Aaron and Eugene, with the latter on the cusp of getting the country's railroad system back up and running.

The Walking Dead Season 10: What We Know So Far

With former lover Lydia helping out, Carl also makes a pit stop in Springhaven, and though Negan's name doesn't get mentioned, it's clear that's whose abode they're at. Lydia notes that he's "never there," meaning the protagonists are clearly keeping an eye on him. Though perhaps it's not on a full-time basis, as Carl points out that the supplies that are left at the house are getting used, even if nobody sees Negan doing anything.

Carl mentions that whoever the someone is that's staying in the area – could it possibly be anyone but Negan? – is probably hiding from them. Lydia agrees there are reasons why that might be the case, making me wonder if Negan had another falling out with people after Maggie spared his life, or if everyone still viewed him as a monster for his reign as the Saviors' leader.

It's clear that people still do talk about Negan, though Carl implies that the villain has become something of a myth for the many who weren't physically present during the All Out War and the lead-up to it. It grounds Carl in reality to talk to those who knew Negan, though he apparently doesn't see the man himself with any regularity.

In the end, after the central roamer-killing case is dismissed by Judge Michonne Hawthorne, Carl sits with young Andrea and reads to her from a book written all about Rick and the way he helped to reshape civilization before his untimely death. Here, it's revealed that everyone refers to the zombie-ruled era as The Trials, and as Carl talks about people's survival instinct distorting their beliefs about "good" and "bad," comic readers got one last look at Negan as he placed flowers on top of (assumedly) Lucille's grave.

So while Robert Kirkman largely kept to his word about Negan not showing up in The Walking Dead's pages again, he thankfully did leave enough breadcrumbs for readers to figure out that Negan is still alive and shit-kicking with the best of them. It's a shame for anyone who was hoping to see him get killed off in an extravagant way, but it probably bodes well for Jeffrey Dean Morgan's role on the TV show.

While it'll still take probably take the rest of the summer to get used to The Walking Dead comics now being completely finished, fans can look forward to many more seasons form the TV series. Get set for Season 10 of the AMC drama to hit primetime this October, and keep watching Fear the Walking Dead to see how it will continue introducing crossover elements.

For many years now, The Walking Dead franchise creator Robert Kirkman has alluded to circumstances where his influential comic book series may never end, even though he'd long had the ending in mind. Just prior to the release of issue #193, which serves as an expanded look at the aftermath of Rick's death in the previous issue, it was made public that this will actually serve as the final issue of The Walking Dead comics.

Robert Kirkman had recently clued fans in on the fact that the issue was going to be a triple-sized affair, and that it would go into the aftermath of Rick Grimes' untimely death at the hands of Sebastian Milton. Such a thing was already assumed, but the issue's size made it seem all the more important anyway. Now, knowing that it will be the very last issue altogether, the page count makes even more sense. As does the fact that it's dropping right before San Diego Comic-Con.

The secrecy behind this release was as stringent as production on the TV show got over the years. To the point where, according to THR, Kirkman and his Skybound comic company solicited future issues of The Walking Dead with faux covers designed by illustrator Charlie Adlard. (Side note: I hope those fake covers are printed for collectors' purposes.)

Long before the TV show started, The Walking Dead comics were already known for killing off characters with little build-up or foreshadowing, aiming for shock value while still arguably keeping things within reason. It's safe to say Robert Kirkman & Co. have eclipsed themselves with the 1-2 punch of Rick's death immediately followed by The Walking Dead's own death, so to speak.

Robert Kirkman was heavily teasing the issue having major ramifications on social media, even foreseeing the news leaking before the issues actually hit customers' hands. (Because the issues did hit other people's hands first, which is likely how the news got out to begin with.)

As strange as it is to say, and even to consider, The Walking Dead's undead will officially outlast the comic book that brought them into existence. I guess that means there's room for future spinoffs and continuations, right? That is, assuming Robert Kirkman can fit those kinds of projects into his busy-as-all-hell schedule.

How this news will affect the TV universe remains to be seen. With Andrew Lincoln's Rick already out of the picture and heading for his own trio of AMC features, it'll be interesting to see if the comic book's next big location makes it to live-action in Season 10. Fear the Walking Dead has been good about expanding the world via its own major helicopter reveals.

So it's possible the two mediums' universes will remain somewhat parallel until the TV series completely eclipses the source material's timeline. The only way to know for sure is to pick up issue #193 on Wednesday, July 3, and to tune into The Walking Dead Season 10 when it hits AMC this October.

Major spoilers below for anyone who isn't current with The Walking Dead comics through issue #192.

The end of an era went down within the pages of The Walking Dead comic book, with Alexandria head honcho and all-around lead character Rick Grimes shuffling off this mortal coil and joining the choir invisible. (Or at least the choir undead.) Like many other readers undoubtedly feel, I can't quite believe Rick's death actually happened. But it did, and creator Robert Kirkman knew he would have a lot of explaining to do as fans questioned why it happened, and how it ties to the TV show.

Robert Kirkman's Explanation

Wisely, Robert Kirkman spent more than a full page of #192's Letter Hacks section offering up his take and his reasoning for having Rick die at the hands of a turdball of a teenager. (As well as saying goodbye to longtime inker Stefano Gaudiano.) First, he noted that Rick's death has been in the docket for longer than fans might have expected.

To be fair, that's not such a surprising statement to make. Robert Kirkman has long stated that he has a rough draft version of how he wants The Walking Dead to end. Since Rick Grimes is no longer part of the comic story in a full-bodied capacity, it can be inferred that Kirkman didn't envision the end of this story with Rick involved. Thus, he likely would have earmarked that kind of big moment early on in order to use it later.

What's more, Robert Kirkman got ahead of any suggestions that pinning the big death on Sebastian was an impulsive decision. In his words:

It all jibes with The Walking Dead's overall themes and the ideals that Comic Rick has held for a long time. (TV Rick came into those notions in far different ways, and they weren't always displayed so prominently there in the end.) There's certainly a debate to be had about whether or not getting shot in his bed was the best way to have Rick dying for the Commonwealth, but the event itself is justified, considering Rick's efforts in keeping cooler heads prevailing during his time there.

Now, let's dive into how this might affect things in live-action.

Could Rick's Comic Book Death Affect AMC's Rick Grimes Movies?

This is a topic I approached previously, when it wasn't yet known what would come from Sebastian's seemingly accidental gunshot. Having his death confirmed now opens that conversation up even wider, since Rick's survival in the comics always gave me hope that Andrew Lincoln's character would be able to exit the TV narrative with his life intact.

Spoiler-friendly as he might be at times, Robert Kirkman obviously wasn't going to offer up any concrete resolutions on this front, but he did shut down a comic/TV theory that might be floating around out there.

It would appear that Robert Kirkman has received some correspondence from comic readers suggesting that he wrote Rick’s death into the source material in reaction to Andrew Lincoln leaving the TV show. That wasn’t the case at all, though, according to the creator. I’m not sure why a comic book character would need to die just because his live-action counterpart did, so hopefully that confirmation will assuage some fans’ worries on that front.

In any case, Robert Kirkman craftily didn't address if or how Rick's comic book death may play into wherever Rick's story is heading for AMC's standalone movies. Fans technically don't even know if The Commonwealth is getting introduced in live-action, even though it appears that will end up being the case. (Especially if The Walking Dead's radio plotline plays out similarly to the comics.)

However, everyone can probably take comfort in TV Rick having the same values as Comic Rick. So if the AMC drama ends up introducing a new community that he could try to preserve by sacrificing himself for it, then you can put good money on TV Rick attempting to make that sacrifice. I mean, that's basically how he left the flagship series, in which he blew up a bridge (and himself) to thwart a walker herd.

Perhaps there is a clue to be found in what Robert Kirkman said to The New York Times about what he expected the fans' reaction to be.

Robert Kirkman specifically brought up that he was toying with reader expectations with Rick's death, not that it's any big secret that he does that. I, for one, had a sizable stack of hopes that the latest issue would start off with Sebastian running away in fear while Rick found immediate medical help. Instead of how it actually started, with Sebastian putting a few more bullets in Rick before leaving him to rise up as a walker.

From there, we can likely surmise that The Walking Dead TV show's creative team will take the same approach when considering readers' expectations for what will happen to Rick whenever his story is front and center once more. I guess it'll boil down to whether or not fans most expect for Rick to survive or to die whenever his standalone films get released. (Spoilers: He's going to survive the first one for sure.)

The Walking Dead won't return to AMC until this October, and it's not clear at all when the Rick movies will be popping up. In the meantime, though, Fear the Walking Dead Season 5 has started off in earnest, and it has seemingly already made its own big connection to Rick's future narrative. It airs Sunday nights on AMC at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Beware of major comic spoilers below for The Walking Dead #191.

For a while now, The Walking Dead comic books and the AMC drama have branched their storylines out in different ways to allow the TV show to bring new and original spins to the source material. The directional shifts hit an apex when The Walking Dead's Andrew Lincoln bowed out of the TV show in Season 9, ahead of an eventual return for a series of Rick Grimes-centric AMC movies. Theories abound concerning his return, but the latest comic issue may have offered some big clues.

To put it frankly, the issue ends with Rick getting shot right in the chest, complete with dramatic blood spatter on the wall behind him, and more blood leaking from his mouth. It was a showstopper of a moment for the 16-year-old comic series, and it stunned fans like few other twists have. So let's lay out how things went down on the page, and then we'll jump into how it could play into the TV show.

How Rick Got Shot In The Comics

Issue #191 was initially one big follow-up to the intense confrontation that was forming between Team Rick and Team Pamela. True to form, Rick managed to reverse the chaos with a long and inspirational speech, and the face-off ended non-violently, with Pamela Milton getting arrested after basically rescinding her leadership.

Though she is clearly pissed off about the turn of events, Rick manages to smooth things over with more of his calmness-inducing explanations, saying that she was likely safer in a jail cell than out among the crowds that had denounced her as the Commonwealth's Governor. He even let Pamela out after their conversation, which shocked and confused her, though she was grateful.

One Commonwealth resident who wasn't grateful in the least, however, was Pamela's egotistical shit-stack of a son, Sebastian. A constant thorn in everyone's brain, Sebastian was pissed that his mother got usurped, and he made his vengeful feelings known by showing up at Rick's house that night to hold him at gunpoint.

Sebastian railed against Rick for throwing all of Pamela's hard work "down the drain," and angrily acknowledged that many of Rick's followers, as well as others within the Commonwealth, spoke as if he was a god instead of just a man. In no way did Sebastian think it was justified for Rick to be able to completely implode the community with a single speech.

And then...it happened. One page turn, and suddenly Rick is sitting up in bed with a bloody hole in his chest. Honestly, it's hard to know who was more shocked by the gunshot, as Sebastian's face was frozen with emergency regret as he watched Rick clutch his chest while bleeding on the bedsheets. The last panel shows Rick gritting his teeth in pain, asking Sebastian in a low voice, "What did you do?"

It was a huge moment, obviously, and we can only imagine what in the world will happen in the next issue. (I mean, besides one or more people hopefully beating the skin off of Sebastian's body.) The "Letter Hacks" section in the back of the issue is where Robert Kirkman and editor Sean Mackiewicz usually offer quick and amusingly glib reactions to what transpired, but this issue featured only this short lead-in from Kirkman.

Fans could look at that in several ways, of course. For one, Robert Kirkman may not want to discuss Rick getting shot because the next episode might feature Rick's actual death, which would be the comic's biggest game-changer yet. Or, on the other hand, some left-field moment may occur in #192 that reveals Rick's gunshot wound isn't as series as anyone initially thought, thus not giving Kirkman much to discuss anyway.

However things turn out on the page, let's now divert our attention to the TV show.

How Rick Getting Shot Could Play Into His TV Future

While next to zero details have been confirmed about where or how Andrew Lincoln's Rick Grimes will show up again on the small screen, fans have had many suspicions. As seen in his final episode from Season 9, an injured Rick was rescued and taken away by helicopter, thanks to a surprisingly empathetic move from Pollyanna McIntosh's Jadis. It's been sorta confirmed that Jadis is the other familiar entity that will be part of the Rick movies, though we're not sure in what capacity.

In any case, many fans think that The Walking Dead is bringing Rick to the massive Commonwealth community, even though the comics haven't broached the topic of helicopter crews. (And even though Jadis' helicopter pilot cohort doesn't seem to be virtuous enough.) That line of theorizing got strengthened by star Danai Gurira's announcement that she would be exiting The Walking Dead TV series in Season 10, though she'll still appear within the universe at large, and will likely return for a heartfelt reunion in the Rick movies.

If the TV show does indeed introduce the Commonwealth via the Rick movies, it might require some major plot adjustments, as far as the timeline goes. (Although that mysterious radio transmission in the Season 9 finale did hint at the flagship series heading for the Commonwealth storyline as well.) But it's easy enough to conceive Rick's arrival playing out in some of the same ways as it did in the comics.

Namely, Rick shows up, is extremely impressed by the size and scale of the Commonwealth's set-up and infrastructure, and then realizes not everything is as it seems regarding the governorship of Pamela Milton. Rick does make a habit of overthrowing leaders willy nilly, doesn't he?

This route could allow the TV show to make Rick's big gunshot twist happen in a similar way as it did in the source material. I can't imagine fans would get a live-action Pamela without a live-action Sebastian, and I also can't imagine he'd be any less miserable a human being in primetime. So if Rick does manage to inspire a mutinous charge from the Commonwealth's underserved population, he'd likely end up in Sebastian's crosshairs.

On the other hand, it would be an interesting tactic if The Walking Dead substituted Rick's comic gunshot wound for his rebar-impalement wound on the TV show. So instead of having someone within the Commonwealth cause the life-threatening injury, Rick would arrive there already in the vicinity of death's door.

That could mean that the TV series would possibly allow Rick's story to coincide with whatever happens to him next in the following issue, #192. We obviously don't know what that could be right now, but as Robert Kirkman hinted at in the "Letter Hacks," the next issue might resolve things in one way or another. Here's hoping Rick survives it all, though, or the Commonwealth and Alexandria could be in major trouble.

The Walking Dead Season 10 won't make its debut until later this year, likely in October, but you can still read about everything we know about it so far. While waiting, be sure to dive into Fear the Walking Dead Season 5 when it returns to AMC for the summer on Sunday, June 2, at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Remember that time when Rick Grimes woke up in an abandoned hospital, and zombies were literally the biggest and most worrisome threat that The Walking Dead had going for it? Those days aren't fully behind us or anything, but there may one day come a point when this universe's walkers will be so decayed and decomposed that they could actually die off. It's not the most likely scenario, of course, but the franchise's vocal creator Robert Kirkman says it's possible.

Years ago, it would have been imperative to bring up the fact that Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard's Walking Dead comic book would likely see zombies dying out first, because of the timeline issues. However, Season 9 of the AMC series brought The Walking Dead 7 years deeper into the future, which means it's not all that far away from reaching a similar groove in the chronology. As such, both properties could feasibly reach a walker extinction of sorts around the same time.

How would that even work on the live-action series, though? I mean, the fear of new walkers would presumably be ever-present, considering Robert Kirkman has also stated no one will ever discover a cure for the still unexplained plague. But would humanity truly be able to plant its feet to build up a global civilization again in the aftermath, or would the depleted population make such grand acts impossible? (Some TV spoilers below.)

One thing is for sure: the Whisperers would likely run out of proper clothing before too long if there wasn't a steady population of walkers to skin. The rest of their schtick wouldn't be nearly as effective, either. How hilarious would it have been if Alpha had taken Daryl to the top of that incline in "The Calm Before" to show him that walker herd, for there to only be like 15 zombies milling about, with half of them completely falling apart?

As well, that would completely change up the tone anytime a character was walking through the woods, or walking near an abandoned vehicle, or searching through a rickety old house. The fear of spontaneously getting attacked by the undead would eventually become outdated and passé, and people would once again gain the ability to thrive within nature. Assuming, of course, that those left standing would be able to revert back to morally bound sustainability. Something tells me characters like Alpha and Beta would fail hard in that respect.

Robert Kirkman made his walker claims in the "Letter Hacks" section of The Walking Dead's latest issue, #189. There, editor Sean Mackiewicz did point out that the possibility of walkers dying out is quite real, though he guesses that reality is still generations away from happening. So perhaps by the time Judith is a grandmother, the youngest generation of the Grimes bloodline will be able to live in a world where walker bites are as much of a threat as overeating.

In that Walking Dead issue, Robert Kirkman also offered his thoughts about how The Walking Dead TV show handled Jesus' death back in the Season 8 midseason finale.

It was indeed a grand introduction, and one that likely couldn't have happened the way it did if the world's walkers were largely out of the picture.

How long do you guys think it would take for The Walking Dead's undead to go the way of the (undead) do-do bird? Let us know, and don't forget to watch The Walking Dead's Season 9 finale on AMC on Sunday, March 31, at 9:00 p.m. ET to see how the show will possibly follow up on Alpha's mass beheadings.

As well, Telltale's The Walking Dead: The Final Season was finally released in full on Tuesday, March 26, and there are reportedly lots of other big announcements on this way this year.

As the brains behind the biggest comic-to-TV adaptation that doesn't feature superheroes, The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman is flourishing in the entertainment industry, and his next project took a wild step forward. Now called 5 Year, Kirkman's pre-apocalyptic TV series was first set up as a Korean drama, and already sounded ambitious. Now, the plan is taking 5 Year to countries around the world for a multitude of co-existing storylines.

Robert Kirkman is developing the 5 Year series from the central concept that the narrative will start five years before a meteor is set to collide with the Earth. Through a new deal set with eOne, which will co-produce while handling finances and distribution, 5 Year is evolving beyond its original Korean-centric plan to bring a different and localized version of the show to every country it's produced in.

Much like if Fear the Walking Dead and The Walking Dead had started airing during the same time, and without taking on any time jumps, 5 Year's new plan will see the same event being told through the eyes of many different characters from around the world. No word on if there would be room for crossovers in that respect, but there might not be as much of a call for it in this case. (Unless all of the different variations were available to stream internationally, I guess.)

At this point, international deals have been set up in Korea, Latin America, the UK, India, China, Russia, and Italy, so that's seven different 5 Year iterations right there. Plus the U.S. version, assuming that does indeed happen, possibly as part of Robert Kirkman's overall deal with Amazon. Though possibly not.

Here's how Robert Kirkman himself explained the motivation behind expanding the initial idea for 5 Year, according to Deadline.

One of our biggest goals at Skybound is to elevate creators by offering them a platform to create compelling stories. Working on5 Year is an exceptional experience because it gives us the opportunity to see how writers and directors across the world tell different stories with the same core ingredients

Not that we're looking for differences from The Walking Dead here, but Kirkman has a completely different goal in mind for 5 Year's lifespan. Its name not only indicates the amount of time its characters have left before being wiped out, but also the amount of seasons it's meant to last. It's an idealized way of preparing a TV show, perhaps, but considering The Walking Dead could last forever, Robert Kirkman has the precedence to think long-term for a project like this.

Beyond the ever-expanding Walking Dead franchise, Robert Kirkman also recently had the Cinemax show Outcast going for two seasons of demon-possessing fun. Next up for the multi-hyphenate will be another comic-to-TV take on one of his extremely popular titles, the now-completed superhero saga Invincible. 5 Year sounds like it'll be quite a few steps away from those, but will still utilize Kirkman's creative mind in interesting ways.

Stay tuned to hear what's coming up for 5 Year in the future. Meanwhile, The Walking Dead will continue its emotional and hectic Season 9 when it returns to AMC on Sunday, February 10, at 9:00 p.m. ET. The fall TV season and the midseason TV premieres will keep you busy in the meantime, though.

The sudden closure of Telltale Games left the fate of The Walking Dead game's final season in question, but according to a recent announcement, the folks at Skybound Games will be taking over the project. There are only two chapters left to finish in the series, so hopefully fans can get the closure they've been seeking for series protagonist, Clementine. Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman said as much over the weekend at New York Comic-Con, with CinemaBlend's Mike Reyes there to get the details. In Kirkman's words:

For those unfamiliar with the Walking Dead television show by the same name, Andrew Lincoln plays the character at the center of its universe, Rick Grimes. Lincoln announced that this will be his last season on the show, though it is still vaguely unclear at this point if his character will meet an unfortunate fate or get to ride off into the sunset.

Similarly, this current season of The Walking Dead game was already set to be the last, bringing an end to Clementine's story. She started off as a child in the games, someone who needed to be protected while also being taught how to survive in a world gone mad. Over the seasons, she's grown into a strong and confident character who protects others she cares about.

When Telltale closed at the end of September, the studio laid off around 275 members of its staff. The second of the four-chapter final season of The Walking Dead dropped just a couple of days later but, at the time, it was unclear if the final two chapters would ever see the light of day. There were a heck of a lot of suddenly jobless employees to think about, too, who'd been fired from the studio without warning. A lawsuit has already been filed, claiming Telltale broke state and federal laws pertaining to notice when it comes to any mass layoff within a company of its size.

The studio's other projects, including a second season of The Wolf Among us and a first season of Stranger Things, were outright cancelled as Telltale projects, with Netflix looking into getting the horror series' game going elsewhere. A skeleton crew was kept on to finish work on Minecraft: Story Mode for Netflix, though some of those employees are also being let go.

In that regard, Kirkman's statement is kind of bittersweet for many fans of the series. Knowing that the series will see some resolution for its fictional characters is a positive, but that doesn't offer much solace when it comes to nearly 300 people losing their job. The buzz around the internet is that Skybound may be looking to bring on some members of the former Telltale team to wrap the project, but nothing has been confirmed involving staffing, or the launch timing for the final episodes of the game, at this time.

It sounds like Telltale is basically having to hand over all of their work for Skybound to pick up and run with, but again, nothing definite has been announced. Kirkman said more details will be provided at a later date. You can currently play The Walking Dead: The Final Season Episode 2 on all the available platforms.

The Walking Dead is typically good at resolving the fates of characters both minor and major, even if it takes a while for the writers to make good on that promise. Robert Kirkman revealed at New York Comic Con that the franchise has not forgotten a currently missing member of the group, Corey Hawkins' Heath, and has confirmed the still-presumably-living character could finally return to the series somewhere down the line. Kirkman talked about the potential future plans for Heath, and how they'd like to bring actor Corey Hawkins back to the show at some point:

Robert Kirkman's joke at the end appears to mean The Walking Dead has something bigger in mind for Heath's story down the road. If they didn't, they could've shown a skeleton or some other obvious sign that Heath didn't make it out on his own, without the need for Corey Hawkins to appear on set. Hawkins has been busy since his days on the AMC show, and his latest appearance in the film BlacKkKlansman proves he's not slowing down anytime soon. As such, it could still be a while before Hawkins' schedule opens up enough for another Walking Dead appearance, and his star power in Hollywood might mean any re-emergence he'd make as Heath would be short-lived.

For those who can't remember what happened to Heath, the character was last seen with Tara fighting walkers back in Season 7. Both were getting overrun, but before Tara could come to Heath's aid, she tumbled off a bridge and touched base with the Oceanside posse. When Tara returned to her previous spot later in the episode, she found Heath's broken glasses and a badge that says "PPP," with the RV they were traveling in now missing. Robert Kirkman's statement to New York Comic Con attendees appears to confirm Scott Gimple's prior assertion that Heath isn't dead, and that there is more within his story they'd like to revisit.

If Heath's story is indeed picked back up, it seems probable whatever follows has to be tied to that "PPP" card that was left behind. The mysterious card Tara found was the subject of much speculation when it appeared, with various theories regarding its meaning popping up all over the web. Some believe it's a clue concerning where Heath is currently, while others have guessed it's a message tied to symbols used in music. Many others have just made memes and jokes about it, seemingly resigned to the fact that we may never know the outcome unless Corey Hawkins finds time in his schedule to return. Given one can never predict what the writers are planning, that might actually be the better option.

The Walking Dead returns for Season 9 and Rick's final episodes on Sunday, October 7, at 9:00 p.m. ET. Keep tabs on everything happening on television over the next couple of months by visiting and bookmarking our fall premiere guide.

When it comes to success with a comic book property, Robert Kirkman knows a thing or two. The creator of The Walking Dead has seen his comic book series become the most successful comic book adaptation ever on TV, spawning a spinoff series and a zombie-fueled empire that, according to reports, is just getting started. Robert Kirkman has also written for Marvel Comics in the past, and is a huge comic book fan that grew up with these characters. So as you might guess, he loved this year's Avengers: Infinity War as much as the rest of us. The writer also has an interesting take on why he thinks that the film is so great, saying:

In Robert Kirkman's opinion, what makes Avengers: Infinity War so great is that it is very much the culmination of what came before it. There is no time spent introducing the characters or recapping what happened up to this point. The film starts in media res aboard the Asgardian refugee ship, and it doesn't let up from there. Marvel already put in the legwork introducing all of these characters to audiences and it is assumed that if you are seeing this film, you saw the preceding 18 films and know where things stand. Infinity War has a ton of faith in the audience in this regard, trusting them to know their stuff. So Marvel rewards that, giving fans the cosmic clash that unites (almost) all of the universe's heroes against an existential threat.

Robert Kirkman's description is sort of like the audience ate their vegetables with the Phase 1 films, had the main course with Phase 2 and 3, and now with Infinity War and Avengers 4, they are getting rewarded with dessert, and it tastes wonderful. And that is part of the accomplishment of Infinity War; it didn't need to adhere to traditional filmmaking rules because it is part of a cinematic universe that audiences have already invested in. Robert Kirkman also expounded upon this point when speaking to Kevin Smith on the SModcast, saying:

Ironically, Robert Kirkman's reasoning for what makes Infinity War so great is actually the same reasoning used by some of the film's detractors to criticize it. Some critics don't like Infinity War because, as Kirkman says, it does not do some things that movies generally do. It doesn't have a traditional structure with resolution and it doesn't have a ton of character development across the board. However, if you view the film as Robert Kirkman does -- and most fans do -- through the lens of how it fits within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it is great.

You aren't supposed to watch Infinity War as if the other films don't exist because they do and Infinity War wouldn't if they didn't. Like Robert Kirkman was saying to Kevin Smith, Infinity War's events are important to audiences because they know and care about these characters because of the development that has taken place prior to this film. Avengers: Infinity War is basically like part 1 of a season finale in a long-running cinematic television series and in that regard it delivers in spades.

See how the rest of this story plays out when Avengers 4 hits theaters on May 3, 2019. Check out all of next year's biggest movies in our 2019 release schedule.

Robert Kirkman is in a fairly odd position with The Walking Dead. He's the creator of the comic series that was turned into a TV series back in 2010. He's also an executive producer, which means he has been a part of the creation of the show for some time, and even is a part of the writers room. Speaking in a recent profile with a bunch of genre producers over at The Hollywood Reporter, The Walking Dead's Robert Kirkman explained how he had to get used to getting flack from people on the series who may or may have not liked certain facets of his comic creations. Per Kirkman:

It's a weird position to be in. A lot of times when writers' works are adapted for TV or film, they aren't involved with the production in such an intimate way. (Possibly because some writers have trouble dealing with changes that are being made to plots and characters.) The case is different with Robert Kirkman, who is pretty involved with the AMC series that brought his characters to life. In addition to serving as an executive producer on the show, he's also written actual episodes of the series for the production. He's been so involved that people apparently kept forgetting that he was in the room when they talked about issues they had with the series early on.

Speaking to THR, Robert Kirkman also talked about how nice it is to be able to see his series come to life on the big screen, so despite taking some flack for his creative works over time, he's still excited about The Walking Dead and where it will be going in Season 9. He said about the show:

While working on a TV show is not always fun and games, it seems the prolific comics writer and The Walking Dead and Fear The Walking Dead producer has had a great TV experience so far. To catch his work back in action, tune in to The Walking Dead when it hits the schedule this October. We'll keep you updated if and when Fear The Walking Dead adds a renewal order, as well.

The Walking Dead is no stranger to lawsuits. Series creator and original showrunner Frank Darabont has filed not one but two suits against the zombie apocalypse juggernaut, and comic scribe Robert Kirkman and others behind behind the scenes slammed AMC with a huge lawsuit less than a year ago. Now, the second series in the Walking Dead universe is the target of a legal case. Robert Kirkman and AMC have been named in a lawsuit over Fear the Walking Dead filed by the author of another zombie-filled comic series. According to Dead Ahead writer Mel Smith, Fear the Walking Dead's second season infringed on the comic series' copyright.

According to the lawsuit (via THR), the three-volume Image Comics series Dead Ahead had "protected elements" that were copied and used, performed, and exploited by Fear the Walking Dead without Mel Smith's permission. Named in Smith's lawsuit are AMC Networks, Skybound Productions, Valhalla Entertainment, David Alpert, and Robert Kirkman himself, among others. The suit claims that Smith's copyrighted work on Dead Ahead was copied in Fear the Walking Dead throughout the last three years. Cited in the suit is a 2007 written license agreement penned by Image Comics to Smith.

The three-volume Dead Ahead series published one volume per year from 2008-2010. The lawsuit itself doesn't detail the elements from the comic that were allegedly copied for Fear the Walking Dead, but it's not difficult to guess the plot that Mel Smith takes issue with. The description of Dead Ahead from Image Comics reveals that, much like portions of Season 2, Dead Ahead sees zombie action on the high seas. Take a look for yourself:

A portion of Fear the Walking Dead Season 2 took place on the ocean, with the survivors taking refuge on Strand's yacht, the Abigail. They run into danger from another group on the high seas, and everybody is running short on supplies while zombies continue to overrun to mainland. The Dead Ahead summary does sound similar to some of what happened in Fear the Walking Dead's second season, but there's no saying at this point if the show really did take anything from the comic as alleged by Mel Smith. There is the point that pretty much any project set in the zombie apocalypse is going to have similarities to other projects; only those familiar with the show, the series, and the people who worked on them can currently know for sure.

While AMC and Robert Kirkman are the biggest names in the lawsuit, David Alpert is definitely of note. Currently credited as an executive producer on The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead, Alpert was reportedly working as Mel Smith's agent back when Dead Ahead was created. The suit states that Alpert was also the manager and business partner for Robert Kirkman. The suit seeks "relief" in the form of compensatory damages, awarding Smith profits from the alleged of Dead Ahead, punitive damages, prejudgment interest, and further relief as equity and justice may require. AMC reportedly hasn't been served with the suit yet and has declined to comment at this point.

Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for the latest in zombie apocalypse news. Fear the Walking Dead will return to the airwaves for the second half of Season 4 on Sunday, August 12 at 9 p.m. ET on AMC. For some non-zombie TV fare, swing by our summer TV premiere guide.

Scott Gimple sat atop The Walking Dead as showrunner throughout some of the series' most controversial deviations from the comics. While he's owned the decisions he's made, Gimple recently admitted he initially wanted to be super faithful to the source material, going on to say that had it not been for creator Robert Kirkman, he probably would have given fans a more direct adaptation of the comics:

Initially believing that giving fans a precise page-to-screen adaptation would be the goal, Scott Gimple realized that by doing a direct adaptation of The Walking Dead comics for TV, viewers familiar with the source material would lose some of the experience that non-reader fans may have going into the show. Gimple and Kirkman didn't want that, so they started changing things around to keep book's fans on their toes. The tactic certainly works in that sense, as the show's major twists and turns have certainly kept both readers and fans constantly guessing what will happen next.

But that's saying nothing of how both sets of fans have reacted. To understate things, several of Scott Gimple's creative decisions for The Walking Dead have been met with mixed responses from audiences. This likely plays a part in why he told the crowds at the AMC panel for From Book To Screen (via Business Insider) that it can be scary to take major detours from the Walking Dead source material. Fans were largely fine with the show killing off Andrea (which happened before Gimple took over as showrunner) well before her time was up in the comics, since she was already so different from the original iteration. On the flip side, some fans were practically calling for Gimple's head when The Walking Dead killed off Carl Grimes, who remains alive in the comics.

Scott Gimple, who is now the CCO for all things Walking Dead-related, explained the show makes such decisions to pay homage to the source material while trying to hit the same story beats in updated ways. And it's not just about being different for the sake of being different. In his words:

Scott Gimple also added that there are things that The Walking Dead comics can do that just don't translate to television. A character can be absent from the comics for 17 issues and then re-appear out of the blue, with little consequence to the reader; but if the show were to attempt the same thing, it's weirder. (Where you at, Heath?) Hilariously enough, Gimple's comment comes just on the heels of former star Jon Bernthal being confirmed to appear in Season 9. Gimple's point still stands regardless, of course, as it's not like anyone can deny the weirdness inherent to Shane returning to TWD in any capacity.

The Walking Dead will return to AMC for Season 9 sometime this fall. Those looking for television shows to watch in the meantime, be sure to visit our summer premiere guide.

As the creator of The Walking Dead comic book series, the co-creator of Fear the Walking Dead, and a major creative force behind The Walking Dead TV series, Robert Kirkman helped change up zombie fiction and horror TV. During its 2003-2018 run, his long-running superhero comic Invincible was a consistently fun alternative to the marquee crusaders, and TV fans will now get to invest in Mark Grayson's adventures thanks to Amazon Studios, which has given Invincible a straight-to-series order for an "adult animation" adaptation.

As the first project happening under Robert Kirkman's overall deal with Amazon Studios, Invincible scored itself an eight-episode first season, which means viewers will likely get a fleshed-out and shock-filled adaptation of the first one or two comic arcs, which are named after classic TV sitcoms. ("Family Matters" and "Eight Is Enough" are the first two titles, for instance.) For some background, Invincible centers on teenager Mark Grayson, whose life is fairly normal beyond the fact that his father is Omni-Man, the most powerful entity on the planet. When Mark starts developing powers of his own, which creates complications both with his home life and with everything else. Not that the show would need to stick to every comic detail.

Far more fun and jubilantly energetic than The Walking Dead (and Kirkman's other comic-to-TV project, the haunting Outcast), Invincible is rife with electric, high-flying action, but also manages grand emotional beats that can pummel and lift readers with ease. Not to mention Mark Grayson being a splendidly developed lead character, balanced by humor, humanity and curiosity. All in all, a well-budgeted animated Invincible show is a win on all fronts.

Robert Kirkman's Skybound Productions will be behind Invincible, which found a showrunner in animation vet Simon Racioppa, who has written for such series as Teen Titans, Fangbone! and the more recent George of the Jungle show. (Not to mention Grossology, which had an A+ concept.) According to THR, Racioppa and Kirkman are joining The Walking Dead's David Alpert and Star Wars: The Clone Wars' Catherine Winder as executive producers. Chris and Justin Copeland, who have worked in the art department for many of DC's animated films over the years, as well as on TV shows such as Ultimate Spider-Man and Ben 10: Omniverse.

Interestingly, the Invincible TV show got its official go-ahead just over a year after Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg teamed up with Kirkman and Universal to write and direct a feature film adaptation. There haven't been any big signs that the film iteration is in big trouble, so perhaps there will be both a live-action and an animated Invincible in fans' lives in the next two or three years. That, or Amazon's show negates any other projects for now. Plus, this makes yet another project Kirkman has lined up outside of his original TV home at AMC, where lawsuits have made things more testy.

Since the show just got ordered, Invincible definitely doesn't have anything set up by way of a release date. But you can be sure to find all kinds of other shows hitting the small screen in the meantime, and you can find a bunch of them in our summer premiere schedule.

Spoilers below for The Walking Dead's Season 8 finale, as well as Fear the Walking Dead's Season 4 premiere, so be sure to watch before reading on.

Horror TV fans had quite a Super Sunday, with The Walking Dead wrapping up its All Out War and Fear the Walking Dead kicking off its highly anticipated crossover season, with Lennie Jones' Morgan making the trek. Fans were no doubt scratching their heads about the timeline, though, since it wasn't made entirely clear how much time had passed between the War's end, Morgan's self-exile, and the time when he meets up with his new Fear co-stars. Thankfully, comic creator Robert Kirkman is here to offer some wildly unspecific insight into where the timeline is. In his words:

At this point in this show's run, fans know better than to expect Robert Kirkman to offer comprehensive answers to questions about present and future topics. But without actually saying it, he draws attention to the fact that Fear the Walking Dead took the franchise's biggest time jump yet in its seasonal transition, and its own timeline actually surpassed that of the flagship series for the first time. (Remember when the creative teams were steadfast against bringing the timelines together?) For fans keeping track, that's a pretty crazy and intriguing concept, allowing for many more connections to come together, with the time-gap out of the way.

Robert Kirkman shared those thoughts on Talking Dead alongside now-former showrunner Scott Gimple, who had a slightly more precise way to go about gauging the timeline.

Fans will likely remember that whenever Morgan is in the junkyard at the beginning of the Season 4 premiere, he's got plants growing inside a bathtub. One of them was an eggplant, which Morgan was chowing down on whenever Rick made his visit. Eggplants usually take between four and six months to harvest under decent circumstances, so he was presumably living in Jadis former home for at least that long before hitting the road. (Unless Jadis had already planted things earlier, of course.) Morgan then walked, ran and drove his way down to Texas, which had to have added another few weeks, if months, to the timeline.

So when Morgan first connected with Garret Dillahunt's John Dorie and Maggie Grace's Althea, it was roughly 6-8 months after The Walking Dead's finale events, which could have interesting implications for where Season 9 will pick up. Will that show play out to a point where Morgan ends up returning by the end, so that the two timelines can fully coincide with one another? We'll just have to wait six months or so to find out.

With The Walking Dead now on hiatus until the fall brings us Season 9, the zombie action has fully shifted over to Fear the Walking Dead and its completely refreshed narratives. Check out what we learned about new character Althea from star Maggie Grace, and then head to our midseason premiere schedule and our summer premiere schedule to see what other shows are on the way.