Posted in: AMC, Fear The Walking Dead, Preview, Trailer, TV, Walking Dead | Tagged: aaron, Alexandria, alpha, amc, andrew lincoln, Angel Theory, beta, bleeding cool, Bounty, cable, Cailey Fleming, carol, Cassady McClincy, chokepoint, Christian Serratos, Connie, dan fogler, danai gurira, Daryl, Eleanor Matsura, Eugene, ezekiel, guardians, Hilltop, horror, jeffrey dean morgan, jesus, Josh McDermitt, Judith, Judith Grimes, kelly, Khary Payton, Lauren Ridloff, luke, Magna, Melissa McBride, michonne, midseason, Nadia Hilker, negan, norman reedus, omega, Review, Rick Grimes, robert kirkman, Rosita, Ross Marquand, ryan hurst, Samantha Morton, scars, season 10, season 9, season 9b, streaming, television, terror, the calm before, the storm, The Walking Dead, Tom Payne, tv, TWD, walkers, whisperers, Yumiko, zombies
"The Walking Dead" Season 10 – Angela Kang on Lauren Cohan Return: "We're Working on It"; Spinoff Casting Confirmed
With the cast and crew of AMC's The Walking Dead already in a deep-dive production-wise on the tenth season, life in the Walking Dead universe has become a lot like the NFL: neither of them have off-seasons anymore. Season 9 said goodbye to Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and hello to a strong ensemble cast (and a "Big Bad" fronted by the amazing Samantha Morton in an award-earning turn as Whisperers leader Alpha). In doing so, series executive producer and showrunner Angela Kang did the near-impossible: found a way to make the show feel fresh and dangerous again.
Meanwhile, spinoff Fear the Walking Dead charged into a fifth season with Austin Amelio's Dwight and a storyline tying directly with the upcoming Rick Grimes film trilogy. There are even reports that the second Walking Dead spinoff series (co-created by TWD CCO Scott M. Gimple and showrunner Matt Negrete) has started casting its leads.
But let's bring it all back to the series that started it all, with Entertainment Weekly continuing its "road of reveals" leading into next week's pop cculture extravaganza (more on that below). Earlier, it was all about Kang's reveal that comic book character Dante would be making the move from page to screen… but with a twist.
Now comes the news fans have been waiting to hear since the actress' run on ABC's Whiskey Cavalier came to an end: Kang is looking to bring Lauren Cohan (Maggie) back – in some capacity:
"I'm not sure if I can say much about it right now actually. I'll just say that we're working on it."
While bringing Cohan back involves some initial obstacles – like how do bring a major character like Maggie back in the middle of a season that's currently in production – none are insurmountable. In fact, the season 9 time jump and Maggie's work with Georgie gives writers a number of options to consider. Of course, there are always the upcoming Rick Grimes films, the second The Walking Dead spinoff series, or a franchise project of Maggie's own to consider – just have to make sure all the "timey-wimey" stuff.
Also, Skybound confirmed earlier reporting that the second The Walking Dead spinoff series (co-created by TWD CCO Scott M. Gimple and showrunner Matt Negrete) has cast Alexa Mansour (Madame Secretary), Nicolas Cantu (The Good Place), and Hal Cumpston (Bilched) to star in the next chapter of the Walking Dead universe, which follows two female protagonists with a focus on the first generation to come-of-age in the zombie apocalypse.
Mansour's character is a good-natured rule breaker who lives for today. She is likable and funny on the outside but sad on the inside. Cantu's character is small for his age in addition to being friendly and an old soul. He also has a black belt in karate. Cumpston's character is big for his age. He is a shy loner that scares some kids, but he hates the fact that he scares people.
Expect even more breaking news leading up to and during this year's Comic-Con International (SDCC) "The Walking Dead" as the series returns to Hall H on Friday, July 19, from 1 pm-2 pm. Panelists will include cast members Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride, Danai Gurira, Ryan Hurst, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Avi Nash, Nadia Hilker, Eleanor Matsuura, and Cailey Fleming, along with Gimple, showrunner and executive producer Angela Kang, executive producers Robert Kirkman, David Alpert, Gale Anne Hurd, and Greg Nicotero. The panel will be moderated by Talking Dead host Hardwick.
AMC's "The Walking Dead" Season 10
Speaking of the upcoming tenth season, as Lincoln assumes the helm on an episode for the first time while speculation over just how much of a role Michonne will have this season continues to grow. Of course, there's continued buzz over Lauren Cohan's Maggie returning in some capacity – especially now that ABC's Whiskey Cavalier appears to have shuffled off the programming coil and still hasn't found a home.
Another highlight to look forward to is Michael Cudlitz (Abraham), who is back for a second go-around behind the camera as director (which he just recently completed). While his previous post with Cailey Fleming (Judith) melted our hearts and reminded us that we do – in fact – have the capacity to feel, Cudlitz's other image update got our arenaline raging again as he joined Norman Reedus (Daryl) and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Negan) to reassure fans that "these fuckers are killin' it" in his episode:
The Walking Dead is expected to return to AMC in October 2019, with filming currently underway. Fear the Walking Dead currently airs on Sunday nights at 9 p.m. ET, with production on the second spinoff series currently underway in Virginia.
Heading into season 5 of Fear the Walking Dead, the group's mission is clear: locate survivors and help make what's left of the world a slightly better place. With dogged determination, Morgan Jones leads the group with a philosophy rooted in benevolence, community and hope. Each character believes that helping others will allow them to make up for the wrongs of their pasts.
But trust won't be easily earned. Their mission of helping others will be put to the ultimate test when our group finds themselves in unchartered territory, one which will force them to face not just their pasts but also their fears. It is only through facing those fears that the group will discover an entirely new way to live, one that will leave them forever changed.
Entertainment Weekly (exclusive)