‘The Walking Dead’ universe chief on Rick, movie, & final season roll out

• Insider caught up with “The Strolling Lifeless” universe chief content material officer Scott Gimple as “Concern TWD” and “TWD: World Past” wrap up for 2020.
• Gimple says followers should not anticipate to see Rick Grimes on the CRM facility on “World Past,” however that does not imply he wasn’t there in some unspecified time in the future.
• A Jeffrey Dean Morgan-centric “TWD” episode was pushed up a bit as a result of pandemic.
• It is probably that the ultimate 24 episodes of “TWD” might be cut up into three elements — season 11A, 11B, and 11C, every with eight episodes.
• Gimple believes there might be a vaccine accessible, hopefully, by subsequent summer season and that can assist with manufacturing of the finale season of “TWD.”
• Gimple nonetheless holds out hope to work with Corey Hawkins once more someday to carry him again as Heath to “TWD” universe in some way, and, hopefully tie up the “PPP” thriller.
• He, Robert Kirkman, Andrew Lincoln, and extra are working to make the primary Rick Grimes’ “TWD” film “superb.”
• Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.

Because the three “The Walking Dead” reveals come to a detailed in 2020, Insider caught up with “TWD” universe chief content material officer Scott Gimple to ask him most of our lingering questions.

In a wide-ranging dialog, we mentioned the three reveals, Rick’s location, those “TWD” movie(s), how the 24 last episodes of the flagship’s last season will roll out, and what is going on on with Negan’s redemption arc.

Whereas Gimple did not immediately reply each query we threw his approach immediately, we have been stunned by how a lot the normally tight-lipped maestro of “TWD” universe shared. He gave us one definitive reply about Rick and shared some intel on hopes to work with Corey Hawkins once more, who left “TWD” on season seven (and was apparently traded to the CRM).

Gimple was particularly open when talking a couple of potential return to “TWD” universe for Madison, which you’ll read about here, and if we’ll ever learn the way the walker apocalypse began — it isn’t wanting nice — which you can read here.

We caught up with Gimple as he was deep into engaged on “Concern TWD” after season six’s first seven episodes wrapped.

Kirsten Acuna: It is good to catch up once more. So, inform me, what a part of “The Strolling Lifeless” universe are you engaged on proper now?

Scott Gimple: I am simply getting off of a “Concern” [“The Walking Dead”] name. Plenty of attention-grabbing issues afoot there. We have been speaking approach, approach, approach forward of the place we are actually.

Rick shouldn’t be on the Civic Republic facility that is situated in upstate New York.

Nicely, I’ve some “World Past,” some “Concern,” and a few “TWD” questions as a result of a lot is happening. I used to be fortunately stunned to see you guys landed on Ithaca, New York for, at the very least, a part of the CRM facility. I assumed that was an attention-grabbing alternative as somebody who went to Syracuse and could be very conversant in the upstate New York space. How and why did you guys land on that?

That is now utterly insider stuff. This isn’t story stuff in any respect. It was concerning the journey that these ladies wanted to take. It was concerning the Western a part of the nation doubtlessly being in several elements of the ‘Strolling Lifeless’ universe tales. It actually simply labored for the story we have been telling.

OK. Is it protected to say that Rick is at this facility? Or is that one thing we have to preserve watching “World Past” to search out out?

You understand what? I will say this as a result of I believe it’s important to be straight with it. He’s not at that facility. Definitively. Some folks is perhaps irritated that I am saying that, however I simply, I would not need folks anticipating that. You understand what I imply?

Yeah. Wow. I admire you giving that reply.

I might tease it out, however I wish to be straight with the folks. I’ll say although — whilst a lot as like with the A’s and the B’s — do we discover out extra about this mythology that Rick is tied up in? Completely. Is Rick hanging on the market? No, he’s not. May Rick have ever been there? Actually attainable, however we’re not going to be rolling as much as him hanging on the market.

Gimple would not verify what it meant to be an “A” or a “B.” He defined why he isn’t a fan of giving a definitive reply on a regular basis.

Did we lastly get a solution about what it means to be an “A” or “B” earlier this season on “World Past”? Or is that also a bit of unclear?

I am gonna say this. The best way we revealed it on the present is in keeping with how it’s within the universe, however I am not going to interrupt it down any greater than what the present did. 

Okay. I did discover that every member of the useless seemed to be labeled with the letter “A” they usually appear to be take a look at topics.

I imply, that is proper up there on the display.

I’ve to strive.

No, no, I imply, that is a very honest play. We knew what we have been doing there.

OK. Typically I am simply undecided if issues are alleged to be inferred or if there’s some definitive reply down the road.

I am going to say this. I at all times hate giving the definitive reply. That is occurred a number of occasions in stuff that I really like — franchises I really like — [where] definitive solutions have been given in interviews. I believe that is bananas the place it is like, “Oh, that is what the story means. And you need to learn this one interview to search out out.”

It is unlikely we’ll see Jadis/Anne present up on “TWD: World Past,” however not unattainable.

I requested the followers what they wish to learn about world past going into season two. They wish to know if we might even see Jadis since we all know she flew again to the CRM so a few years in the past.

Oh, wow. I hate being the one who cannot reply all these questions, however, we’ll have to attend and see on that one. It’s unlikely, however not unattainable.

Are the three reveals constructing to a large struggle? Gimple reminded us of the large group Michonne noticed when leaving seeking Rick.

I had this thought whereas watching “World Past” and “Concern” again to again one week. The three reveals, they’re organising these large armies. You may have the CRM, which has over 200,000 folks. I do not know the way many individuals are within the militia…

That is the inhabitants.

After all. We have now the Commonwealth, who we briefly met on “TWD.” Then Strand began to construct the militia for Ginny on “Concern TWD.” So I see three massive teams — perhaps Strand and the Commonwealth group finally staff up. Is “The Strolling Lifeless” universe, teasing a large showdown between the three communities for the super-sized, last season of “TWD” or the longer term Rick Grimes motion pictures?

Nicely, to begin with, I am not going to reply your query, however I am going to toss stuff else [out there], which is, remember the group that we last saw, Michonne with.

Ooh. OK.

That is an enormous group there. That is large. They’re on the march. I’d say now we have numerous story to inform and we’ll inform it.

May “The Strolling Lifeless” and “Concern TWD” line up once more? “By no means say by no means.”

With “The Strolling Lifeless” ending in 2022, what does this imply for “Concern”? Is that present going to maintain going or can we anticipate to see a flash-forward and see these two reveals line up once more? I think about there needs to be some plan there. You mentioned you have been deep in that these days.

The reveals are fairly separate so far as their tales go. I imply, clearly you bought Dwight and Sherry. You’ve got obtained Morgan [all from “TWD” on “Fear”]. However each these reveals are on their very own trajectories. Once more, I by no means say by no means as a result of now we have 24 episodes to do on “Strolling useless.” We simply completed our six, kind of, “10 C” episodes. However, yeah, they’re sort of on completely different trajectories.

“TWD” seasons are normally 16 episodes lengthy. The 11th season; nonetheless, might be 24 episodes. They might be rolled out in three elements.

I really like the reference to “10 C” as a result of wanting on the last season of “The Strolling Lifeless,” I requested [showrunner] Angela [Kang] about this and he or she wasn’t certain on the time. Are you aware if the 24 episodes are going to be two halves of 12 or a season “A,” “B,” and “C” every with eight episodes?

I am fairly, pretty certain it is an “A,” “B,” and “C.” I am not 100% certain. So I believe, even when I have been to present you a solution on that now, it very effectively might change.

After all.

I’ll say that eight episode blocks are sort of our candy spot. I believe it is a good guess, however I do not wish to completely embarrass myself when a unique determination is made.

We have now not seen the final of large walker hordes in “TWD” universe due to the pandemic.

I spoke with [“Fear TWD” showrunners] Andrew [Chambliss] and Ian [Goldberg], about what adjustments, if any, that filming throughout the pandemic had on the following 9 episodes. They talked about not a lot, as a result of the anthology format of the present season lent itself to writing for COVID, unknowingly. However they did have to think about what number of walkers and what number of extras are in scenes because the pandemic continues. As we’re heading into the ultimate season of “The Strolling Lifeless” after these bonus 10 episodes, are the times of a giant walker herd or military over on “TWD”?

No, I would not say that solely as a result of I would say the place there is a will, there is a approach. We would not put anyone’s security in query, however after I was showrunning. Oh my God, it is loopy, like seven years in the past… the expertise is a lot completely different.

We have performed issues on all of the reveals now that I really feel like the massive brother who did not get the nice toys. Even a number of the stuff I have been in a position to do on the reveals that I have been intimately concerned in, I am like, “Holy crap.” I want I might have performed this again within the day, again after I was within the previous timey days of season 4 and 5. With expertise and even simply extremely current expertise, we are able to do unimaginable issues.

The times of hordes are nonetheless very a lot alive and even in some methods extra attainable than they have been previously, strictly simply due to expertise. That mentioned, “Strolling Lifeless” goes to be capturing 24 episodes. I believe what’s superb about these 24 episodes from simply the time that it will be capturing is that the world goes to utterly change throughout these 24 episodes. These are going to begin early subsequent yr. In the course of it, I imagine that vaccines are going to, by the top of the summer season, I believe that vaccines are going to be everywhere in the world. And as they transfer into the autumn, it is simply going to be such a unique manufacturing state of affairs, a unique state of affairs on the planet than we have had these previous few months, which is, I believe that is an unimaginable factor for, for that present and “Concern.”

Issues are gonna not solely get again to regular, I imagine, even when they abruptly in some way did not, the digital is healthier than ever. Um, so I believe folks will get their scrumptious walker hordes.

They have been contemplating a “Here is Negan” adaptation on “The Strolling Lifeless.” The pandemic helped velocity that course of up. 

On “TWD,” we’re lastly getting a “Here is Negan” episode, based mostly off of the standalone e book that includes Negan’s backstory. Was that at all times within the playing cards or was that one thing that got here up particularly due to the six bonus episode format?

It was very a lot within the playing cards. The episode format, I believe sped it up a bit, although. If anyone noticed that episode, they would not assume that as a result of it is one of the crucial sensible episodes that the present has performed… This obtained accelerated. This was one thing we have been taking a look at, however it is going to be an incredible episode. I am so happy with all people who labored on that one. I am happy with the whole season. They shot six episodes in six weeks. I believe “The Strolling Lifeless,” Angela, and the writers, the producers, crew, forged did an incredible job, placing these all collectively.

I by no means have wished to be on set extra and I couldn’t get to set as a result of, individuals who pop out and in, you may’t try this anymore. I can not anticipate folks to see “Here is Negan,” however I can not anticipate them to see all of them.

They’re conscious they cannot have Negan’s redemption arc on the present with out revisiting and acknowledging what he is performed previously.

I wish to ask actual fast about Negan as a result of he is had this redemption arc of late on “The Strolling Lifeless,” nevertheless it looks like each “TWD” and “Concern the Strolling Lifeless” are having a reckoning of types with Negan’s previous demons to ensure that him to maneuver ahead. We have seen “Concern” begin to discover Sherry’s PTSD at the hands of Negan. And it seems to be like we’ll revisit the stress between Maggie and Negan on “The Strolling Lifeless.” Is that what is going on on right here? Is “TWD” universe able to confront all of Negan’s previous transgressions?

I believe they loom massive within the characters that they’ve affected and other people simply merely cannot transfer on, um, contemplating what he did and, and he cannot transfer on. For each redemption that he is had — he is had a number of final season — nonetheless higher an individual he turns into or how a lot he returns to perhaps someone that he was, he has to face what he grew to become. And, I believe the largest a part of it, even with Dwight and Sherry — and it is big on “Concern” — however with Maggie returning [to “TWD”] it will probably’t be similar to, “Hey, we’re cool, proper?” It would not work like that.

I believe lots of people admire that you simply’re circling again to these issues.

Yeah. I imply, now we have to. To Honor the story now we have to.

Gimple is aware of what “PPP” means and hopes to work with Corey Hawkins, who performed Heath, once more.

One thing that at all times sticks in my thoughts is whether or not or not we’re ever going to study what PPP means. [For many who do not recall, again on season seven, after Heath disappered, Tara, who’s now useless, discovered a card with the letters “PPP” on it. It by no means got here up once more.]

Oh, wow. That is a deep reduce. I hope we do, too. I do know what it means. For all I do know, by the point we get to it, I may need to make it imply one thing else than I had initially meant. God is aware of I am decided to work with Corey once more. One other definitive, but hopeful ,you’ll.

OK. Wow. Nicely, that is, that is greater than I used to be anticipating. That is at all times on my checklist to ask Angela and I at all times run out of time. So I am glad that I obtained to ask one in all you. 

It is on my checklist. Let me put it that approach.

Gimple needs to reiterate that the Rick Grimes film IS taking place.

Nicely now we have “The Strolling Lifeless” and “Concern the Strolling Lifeless” returning subsequent yr. Is there something you wish to tease for the return of both present or anything happening within the universe?

Past that, I imply, I am going to offer you some issues which are hardly definitive, however I simply wish to reiterate. We’re persevering with to work on the film. It’s taking place. We’re, taking this time from COVID and we’re hunkering down and Mr. [Andrew] Lincoln, Mr. [Robert] Kirkman, Mr. [David] Alpert, AMC, Common — we’re all charging ahead it on it. It is simply taking a bit greater than TV. After which [we’re] engaged on the information reveals. So now we have stuff into the way forward for “The Strolling Lifeless,” and numerous very completely different stuff. I am actually excited to hopefully have some extra stuff to speak about with you coming into the New Yr.

I did not wish to sound like a damaged document once more. Thanks for bringing it up by yourself.

I do not thoughts telling those that we’re engaged on it. I do know persons are actually itchy. These are not any joke. We make an episode of TV in eight days. Films are a unique factor. It’ll be superb. For all of the stress that now we have on us for taking this lengthy, that solely makes it [so] that now we have to make it superb. So we’ll.

“TWD” returns to AMC on February 28, 2021 at 9 p.m. for six bonus episodes. You possibly can follow along with our “TWD” coverage here.