The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live showrunner – and chief creative officer of The Walking Dead TV franchise – Scott Gimple reveals if the 2020 spinoff World Beyond is required viewing for Rick and Michonne’s new series. The two-season show featured a young generation of survivors trying to learn more about the CRM and their operations across the post-apocalyptic United States. Alongside new characters was the return of Jadis, introduced in the main show and to be featured in the new spinoff.
Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Gimple revealed that The Walking Dead: World Beyond will not be necessary to watch ahead of The Ones Who Live‘s release. He also clarified where in the timeline the show was initially supposed to take place before the Rick Grimes movie trilogy was reworked. Check out what Gimple had to say below:
World Beyond was supposed to come out after the Rick story started. And it was like a cool little peek into a corner of it.
I think it’s absolutely a fun bit of context, but there’s no necessity to it. It’s a very different story. It’s a younger story…. I think [references to World Beyond are] probably the expected thing. And I think it’s more unexpected than that, who we may or may not see.
How The Ones Who Live Can Reference World Beyond
Gimple’s explanation indicates there might be some references to the short spinoff, but nothing that will greatly impact the experience of Rick and Michonne’s story. This aligns with how World Beyond‘s post-credits scene set up fast zombies in France, but wasn’t required viewing despite having connections to Daryl Dixon. However, viewers may get more out of smaller details if they decide to watch the other spinoff first.
While references may be minimal, The Ones Who Live will feature Jadis, who became a prominent character in the final episodes of World Beyond. By the final episode, she ends up taking Silas under her wing, unaware he is acting as a spy to stop the CRM’s nefarious experiments on other survivors. Since he may have grown into a trustworthy figure in the community by the time Rick and Michonne’s new journey starts, it’s possible he could make a cameo appearance in a nod to the series.
10 Important Walking Dead: World Beyond Details To Know Before Rick & Michonne’s Spinoff
With Rick and Michonne’s spinoff just around the corner, there are some key details revealed in The Walking Dead: World Beyond that may be crucial.
Since Gimple said references to World Beyond may be “unexpected,” it could be as simple as acknowledging how the CRM destroyed Omaha, Nebraska and its Campus Colony. This ties into the group’s zombie experiments, which include the designation of A and B mentioned when Rick was taken in The Walking Dead. While its references in The Ones Who Live may be sparse, the spinoff could prove to be an interesting component of the zombie franchise, expanded upon thanks to Rick’s capture.
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live
Created by Scott M. Gimple and Danai Gurira, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live is a sequel spin-off series in The Walking Dead television franchise. The series picks up some time after Michonne departs from the original series, as she searches to be reunited with her lover, Rick Grimes. Meanwhile, Rick finds himself amid another war between the living and the dead.
- Cast
- Andrew Lincoln , Danai Gurira , Pollyanna McIntosh , Lesley-Ann Brandt , Terry O’Quinn
- Release Date
- February 25, 2024
- Seasons
- 1
- Network
- AMC
- Streaming Service(s)
- AMC+
- Franchise(s)
- The Walking Dead
- Writers
- Scott M. Gimple , Danai Gurira
- Showrunner
- Scott M. Gimple
