The Walking Dead is a long-running series, with 177 episodes debuting through 11 seasons. Based on the comics by Robert Kirkman, the show is the most successful comic-to-series adaptation ever and will finally come to a close with the finale of Season 11. Unfortunately, the ensemble cast, consisting of Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride, Lauren Cohan, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Ross Marquand, and Khary Payton, will go their separate ways following the epic conclusion. However, one star believes the franchise could continue forever.
Marquand, who began playing Aaron on the fifth season of The Walking Dead, believes multiple spinoffs and original storytelling could allow the franchise to continue for years. During an interview with SYFY Wire, the actor stressed that the world created by Kirkman could continue with several different iterations.
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Marquand achieved a successful career outside The Walking Dead, appearing in films like Avengers: Infinity War and the follow-up, Endgame. However, his most notable role, and perhaps the one that defined his career, will be his eight years as Aaron on the AMC program.
“It’s weird to think that it’s all over because it was certainly the show that saved my career and saved my life in many ways. I’m so grateful to have been a part of it. But I think we’ve told a lot of story and I feel like it’s wrapping up at a good time. It’s wrapping up in a good place and I’m excited to see what people think of it. I’m also excited to see what comes next. I think as long as the writers and the producers are coming up with new life and new ideas for the show, then I think it could exist in many iterations for years to come.”
The Walking Dead Has Plenty of Spinoffs
AMC has already taken advantage of its popular zombie franchise, introducing several spinoffs over the years. Fear the Walking Dead was the first to premiere in 2015, with Kim Dickens, Frank Dillane, Cliff Curtis, and Alycia Debnam-Carey leading the cast. The series has seen success over the years, with a 103-episode count thus far across its 7-season run. Lennie James, who played Morgan Jones in the initial series, joined Fear in season 4, effectively changing the trajectory of his character and the show.
The Walking Dead: The World Beyond aired its first season in October 2020 before wrapping up with its second and final season in 2021. However, the series had some larger implications toward the broader universe, as Pollyanna McIntosh reprised her role as Jadis for the series, revealing her character as the leader of the CRM. Tales of the Walking Dead, an anthology series featuring A-list talents such as Terry Crews and Olivia Munn, debuted earlier this year, opening the possibility of beloved characters from the original series to return despite their deceased status.
In the coming years, audiences will see an untitled Daryl Dixon spinoff, a Maggie and Negan spinoff titled Dead City, and the return of Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira in a miniseries that wraps up their character arcs. If you’re a Walking Dead fan, there’s plenty to look forward to. Fans can tune into the final episodes of Season 11, premiering on AMC and AMC+.
