Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 375

Disney+ Sets Summer Start Date for Password Sharing Crackdown

What a shock. After Netflix’s extended password-sharing crackdowns proved to be unfortunately successful, Disney+ has decided this is a good time to start a password-sharing crackdown of its own. Actually, we aren’t surprised. It seems like the new streaming playbook includes password-sharing limitations right alongside price increases and ad-supported tiers. Disney+ had previously indicated such a password-sharing crackdown was on the horizon earlier in the year. And now it looks like it’s finally arrived. Here’s what we know about Disney+’s password-sharing crackdown efforts so far.

Disney+ Will Start Its Password Sharing Crackdown This Summer

At an earnings call that took place in February 2024, Disney shared more details about its planned password-sharing crackdown for Disney+ users. According to The Verge,  Disney’s Chief Financial Officer Hugh Johnston noted that Disney+ accounts “suspected of improper sharing” will be notified that different users will need to make different accounts. Disney+ will also follow in Netflix’s footsteps, allowing users to add people outside of their household to their accounts for an additional fee. That fee currently remains unknown.

Disney

In full, Johnston’s quote about Disney+’s password-sharing crackdown reads, “As it relates to the opportunity we see on paid sharing, beginning this summer, Disney Plus accounts suspected of improper sharing will be presented with new capabilities to allow their borrowers to start their own subscription… Later this calender year, account holders who want to allow access to individuals from outside their household and will be able to add them to their accounts for an additional fee.”

Johnston further noted, “Paid sharing is an opportunity for us,” Johnston added. “It’s one that our competitor is obviously taking advantage of, and one that sits in front of us … We’ve got some very specific actions that we’re taking in the next couple of months.” Doesn’t that just make your blood boil?

As mentioned in Johnston’s quote, the Disney+ password-sharing crackdown will arrive in the summer of 2024.

Disney+ Notifies Users of Password Sharing CrackdownMarvel Studios

Disney+ first revealed its crackdown intentions in Canada late last year. According to The Verge, Disney+ sent an email to subscribers in Canada alerting them that password-sharing was on notice in September of 2023. The email noted, “We’re implementing restrictions on your ability to share your account or login credentials outside of your household.” Although Disney+ did not go too deeply into detail about what its password-sharing crackdown would look like, it feels like the streamer is emulating Netflix’s version. In fact, Disney+ even references the idea of “households,” a term Netflix created so it could enforce who could and could not use one Netflix account.

In the meanwhile, Disney has also given a similar notice to Hulu users in the United States.

Changes to Disney+’s User Agreement in Canada

In the case of Disney+, an updated Help Center page notes, “You may not share your subscription outside of your household.” Additionally, a new “account sharing” heading now appears in Candian subscribers’ user agreements. As shared by MobileSyrup, the section includes the following information:

Unless otherwise permitted by your Service Tier, you may not share your subscription outside of your household. “Household” means the collection of devices associated with your primary personal residence that are used by the individuals who reside therein. Additional usage rules may apply for certain Service Tiers.

We may, in our sole discretion, analyze the use of your account to determine compliance with this Agreement. If we determine that you have violated this Agreement, we may limit or terminate access to the Service and/or take any other steps as permitted by this Agreement (including those set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement).

You will be responsible for any use of your account by your household, including compliance with this section.

It doesn’t seem all that likely that Disney+ would actually terminate a user for password-sharing, but now it can’t say it didn’t warn you.

When Will Disney+’s Password Sharing Crackdown Begin?Lucasfilm

For most Canadian users, these changes in password-sharing policies went into effect on November 1. That corresponded with the launch of Disney+’s ad-supported tiers in Canada. While its not clear if Disney immediately moved to enforce the password policy, it is clearly making sure users know it intends to at some point.

As mentioned above, it looks like a wider password-sharing crackdown is coming to Disney+ in the summer of 2024. There is no word yet on how that will effect different regions or who will be hit first.

We guess we’ll see how seriously Disney+ will take this new initiative.

Originally published on September 28, 2023.

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KNUCKLES Trailer Brings Back SONIC’s Red Warrior and Idris Elba for Spinoff Series

How is an Echidna warrior stuck on Earth because of a sacred vow supposed supposed to fill all his free time? Star in his own spinoff TV series, obviously. Sonic the Hedgehog 2‘s super powerful red alien is coming to Paramount+, and the first trailer for the upcoming Knuckles series reveals that he doesn’t need to build his own living room/fighter pit. Not when there are plenty of other dangerous enemies out to get him.

Idris Elba is officially back as Knuckles in this fun trailer. (As is ESPN 8, The Ocho!) After helping his friends in his big-screen debut Knuckles is getting his own six-episode special event. (Which takes place after Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and before the series’ upcoming third film.) The live-action spinoff series will follow Knuckles “on a hilarious and action-packed journey of self-discovery as he agrees to train Wade (Adam Pally) as his protégé and teach him the ways of the Echidna warrior.”

We learn in this trailer, that when not fighting, Knuckles will also enjoy some human snacks and coffee. Good for him. He might be intense, but even the greatest fighters need to some me-time occasionally, you know?

Paramount Pictures/SEGA of America

The show also features an incredible supporting cast. It includes Stockard Channing (The West Wing), Edi Patterson (The Righteous Gemstones), Scott Mescudi (Don’t Look Up), Ellie Taylor (Ted Lasso), Julian Barratt (Mindhorn), Rory McCann (Game of Thrones), Cary Elwes (Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning), Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future), Paul Scheer (Black Monday), and Rob Huebel (Childrens Hospital).

Elba and Pally aren’t the only franchise stars back for more fun, either. Ben Schwartz will appear as the expanding cinematic universe’s leader, Sonic in the Knuckles series. Special guest star Tika Sumpter will also return as Maddie. And Colleen O’Shaughnessey will pop up to voice Tails once more.

Fans of the Sonic franchise can also keep an eye out for another new Knuckles trailer during this year’s Super Bowl. Then we’ll have to wait until this spring to see the show. All six episodes of Knuckles will premiere on Friday, April 26, exclusively on Paramount+ in the US. Sadly there’s no way to speed that release date up. So maybe just brew a pot of coffee and turn on The Ocho until then.

This post has affiliate links, which means we may earn advertising money if you buy something. This doesn’t cost you anything extra, we just have to give you the heads up for legal reasons. Click away!

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Disney Renews PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS for Season 2

Disney+’s adaptation of Percy Jackson and the Olympians brought Rick Riordan’s books to life with joy, adventure, and magic. Perfect casting and creative storytelling made for an entertaining take on the first Percy Jackson book. Percy figured out who stole Zeus’ Master Bolt, but that’s far from the last quest the demigod goes on. And luckily, we’ll get to see at least one more. Disney+ has renewed Percy Jackson and the Olympians for season two. This makes sense, as Disney reports the show has over 110 million hours streamed to date.

The second season of Percy Jackson will adapt the second book in Riordan’s series, The Sea of Monsters. In it, mythological monsters threaten Camp Half-Blood. Percy must act to save the special haven for demigods, along with Annabeth and Grover. And the Sea of Monsters? That’s the Bermuda Triangle. It’s all going to be fine, we’re sure.

Riordan said in a statement, “I can’t wait to bring the next season of Percy Jackson to Disney+! Raise anchors. Hoist the mainsail. All hands on deck, demigods. We’re heading for the Sea of Monsters!”

Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries, and Aryan Simhadri will of course return as the main trio in the Riordan and Jon Steinberg-created series. We’re bound to see many familiar faces from season one, along with plenty of new ones. You never know which gods and creatures Percy Jackson will run into.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians season one is now streaming on Disney+.

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Disney Returns to the Sea with MOANA 2

Surprise! Moana’s story isn’t over. During an earnings call on Wednesday afternoon, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced Disney Animation is working on Moana 2. The sequel follows up the 2016 movie centering on a girl who longed for adventure, and in taking said adventure, helped her people and found herself. The Moana sequel is already well underway and will see the characters Moana (obviously) and Maui returning. Disney even already has a brief first look. Watch it here:

The footage accompanies an image that hints at a grand journey ahead for Moana and Maui. It’s making us hope that Moana 2 has even more of life under the sea. For now, we know this about Moana 2‘s story:

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ epic animated musical Moana 2 takes audiences on an expansive new voyage with Moana, Maui and a brand-new crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.

Given that Journey of Water recently opened at EPCOT, it feels right to get more Moana stories. We know there’s a live-action Moana in the works, but that’s not the same as continuing her tale. As much as I wish Disney would focus on original stories, I still feel excited about watching Moana return to the sea and learning what happened after she saved Motunui. This round, however, had better include more Pua. The first film didn’t feature enough of that cute little pig.

Disney

Dave Derrick Jr. will direct Moana 2. The film will feature music from Abigail Barlow, Emily Bear, Opetaia Foa’i, and Mark Mancina.

We won’t have to wait long for Moana 2. It’s sailing to theaters on November 27, 2024.

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Disney and Epic Games Announce a ‘Games and Entertainment Universe’

Epic Games found incredible global success in 2017 thanks to the immense popularity of Fortnite. Now, they are taking things to the next level, thanks to a partnership with Disney that lives up to their name. Via The Hollywood Reporter, we’ve learned that The Walt Disney Co. and Epic Games will create a brand new “games and entertainment universe” that brings Disney characters from their various franchises together. In the brief teaser trailer they released, we see characters from Frozen, Star Wars, the Avatar films, Indiana Jones, Pixar, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, all in one world. You can watch the brief teaser, which states it’s all coming “soon(ish)” right here:

Here’s what Disney CEO Bob Iger said about the upcoming partnership:

Our exciting new relationship with Epic Games will bring together Disney’s beloved brands and franchises with the hugely popular Fortnite in a transformational new games and entertainment universe. This marks Disney’s biggest entry ever into the world of games and offers significant opportunities for growth and expansion. We can’t wait for fans to experience the Disney stories and worlds they love in groundbreaking new ways.

Epic Games/The Walt Disney Company

Disney will also invest $1.5 billion to acquire an equity stake in Epic Games alongside this gigantic multi year project. “This will be a world-class game experience, inter-operating with Fortnite,” the statement said. The new “persistent universe” allows consumers to engage with characters from across the Walt Disney Company’s vast library of IP. Players will create their own stories and experiences and share content with each other. And Unreal Engine will power all of this. Disney has already utilized Unreal Engine for the attraction Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Not to mention the games Star Wars: Jedi Survivor, Marvel’s Nexus War with Galactus, and Kingdom Hearts 3. We expect a lot more details about this new venture over the coming months.

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THE MANDALORIAN & GROGU Will Arrive in 2026

The Mandalorian‘s third season ended with Din Djarin and his little green son establishing a quiet life for themselves. They earned that peace, too. The beloved Star Wars duo helped take back Mandalore for their people after defeating Moff Gideon and his budding army of Force-sensitive clones. But we all knew the good times wouldn’t last. Not when so many dangers still exist in the galaxy far, far away. What we didn’t know is where their adventures would continue. Lucasfilm has announced the pair is leaving Disney+ for theaters. Production will begin this year on The Mandalorian & Grogu, a feature-length movie from show creator Jon Favreau. During an earnings call, Disney revealed The Mandalorian & Grogu will release in 2026. The studio’s slate currently has May 22, 2026 marked for a Star Wars movie, so that date seems likely.

Lucasfilm

Lucasfilm’s next movie is a big (screen) jump for the studio’s small screen stars. The next chapter in Din Djarin and “The Child’s” story will happen in theaters. Series creator and showrunner Jon Favreau will direct them in the directly named The Mandalorian & Grogu. He will also produce along with Kathleen Kennedy and Dave Filoni. Production on the movie will begin some time this year.

“I have loved telling stories set in the rich world that George Lucas created,” said Favreau in the film’s official announcement. “The prospect of bringing the Mandalorian and his apprentice Grogu to the big screen is extremely exciting.”

Lucasfilm

While Lucasfilm did not share any details, Kennedy did say the film is a “new story” that is a “perfect fit for the big screen.” The accompanying artwork for the movie also shows Din Dada and his powerful boy fleeing an exploding ship. Lucasfilm also said The Mandalorian & Grogu movie “will lead” its ongoing feature-development slate, which includes films helmed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, James Mangold and Dave Filoni, who is also currently developing Ahsoka Season 2, among those in the works.” (Yes, that Ahsoka tidbit is news, too.)

We don’t have any real idea what this movie will be about beyond what we can surmise from the state of the galaxy during this time period. But that along with these scant tidbits are just enough morsels of information to guarantee any and all speculation will be quite rampant until we actually know anything. This is the way of Star Wars fans.

Originally published on January 9, 2024.

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Celebrate 70 Years of Godzilla with Santa Cruz Skateboards and Apparel

70 years ago, Godzilla arrived on cinema screens in Gojira. No one could have known back then that this giant atomic lizard would become an institution, spawning 38 films, several animated series, and a whole lot of toys and merchandise. In fact, according to Guinness, it’s the longest-running film franchise in history. In celebration of 70 years of the Tokyo stomping kaiju, Toho International has announced a collaboration with Santa Cruz Skateboards for an epic Godzilla collection. Each features bold, graphic skate deck designs honoring the King of the Monsters. You can check out images of several of these new skateboards and apparel in our gallery down below:

Click To View Gallery Toho/Santa Cruz Santa Cruz/Toho Santa Cruz/Toho Toho/Santa Cruz Toho/Santa Cruz Santa Cruz/Toho Toho/Santa Cruz

The limited-edition line will include eight skateboard deck designs, including a monster-sized deck (11’’ x 32’’). This is the largest skate deck Santa Cruz has made to date. It even comes complete with a unique shape resembling Godzilla’s prehistoric skin texture. Santa Cruz brought several talented artists aboard to reimagine the classic graphics of Corey O’Brien, Tom Knox, Rob Roskopp, and Natas Kaupas. These are all based on the original artwork by Jim Phillips.

They’ll arrive in several styles inspired by iterations of Godzilla through the years. We’re talking about everything from Shin Godzilla to Mechagodzilla, and even more. We even see a little baby Minilla in there. Of course, American audiences know him as the Son of Godzilla, who later inspired Godzilla’s TV nephew, Godzooky. (The Godzilla family tree is extensive.)

Santa Cruz

This amazing Godzilla anniversary skateboard collection is rounded out with a selection of apparel including tees, hats, and hoodies. There is also a sticker pack with the skate deck artwork in sticker form. The full product line will hit retail in November 2024, just in time to celebrate Godzilla’s 70th anniversary and official Godzilla Day on November 3.

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Donald Glover Is Still Planning on Being in the COMMUNITY Movie

Original reporting by Melissa Miller.

The prophecy foretold six seasons and a movie, and now that will come to pass. The Community movie is coming to Peacock! Thanks to a tweet from series star Joel McHale and a report in Variety, we finally know it’s happening. We also know that series creator Dan Harmon will write and produce the movie. However, with the ongoing writers’ strike, things were on hold for a while. McHale revealed to Variety that Harmon and co-writer Andrew Guest were almost done with the script and had a director in mind before everything came on a halt in May. Harmon, McHale and other members of the WGA were on strike because the union did not reach a new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) over many issues, including streaming residuals. Here’s what McHale had to say about it all.

“We had a shooting date coming up, which was going to be in the summer,” said McHale. “And I think they were extremely close to—I mean, Dan is somebody that tweaks things but, obviously, that’s all stopped. But I think it was pretty darn close. It was close, the shoot date was coming up and we were all excited to do it and then the writers strike happened, which obviously put everything on hold, and rightfully so. The writers are asking for very reasonable things. Writers need to be paid properly.”

NBC

Of course, we all want a Community movie, but we completely agree with Joel McHale. Our favorite shows and films cannot exist with out writers. And we want writers to receive the equitable pay and fair working conditions and contracts that they deserve.

Casting news isn’t official, but McHale tagged fellow stars Alison Brie, Donald Glover, Yvette Nicole Brown, Danny Pudi, and Ken Jeong in his post, as well as Gillian Anderson (but we assume he meant to tag Gillian Jacobs, who played Britta). The series finale gave our beloved characters a nudge towards their next steps in life, but we’ll be perfectly happy to see them all back together at Greendale Community College. Three cheers for the Community movie.

.@alisonbrie @kenjeong @dannypudi @YNB @donaldglover @GillianA @peacock @SonyTV @CommunityTV pic.twitter.com/ynVqgaPuQD

— Joel McHale (@joelmchale) September 30, 2022

The show fulfilled half of Abed’s prophecy of “six seasons and a movie” with a final season on Yahoo! after five seasons on NBC. Its 110 episodes, all named like community college course titles, that mostly hit the mark of comedic and meta, takes on adult friendships. We cheered for the tight-knit study group through all the years of puppets, paintball, and pillow forts.

Community gained new popularity, and talk of the movie heated up when the show landed on Netflix in 2020. But it’s been part of the show’s lexicon since long before the series finale in 2015. It’s always a fun rewatch, and it’s never too late to watch the series for the first time.

NBC

We can’t wait to hear official casting news for the Community movie. Will we finally learn what happened to Troy Barnes after he sailed off with LeVar Burton and was never heard from again? Donald Glover did join in when the cast reunited for a virtual table read in the early days of the pandemic. Happily, Dan Harmon has confirmed Glover would return for the movie. Glover himself also recently told The Hollywood Reporter he was still planning on the Community movie, saying:

Yeah, [Dan Harmon] told me what he wanted, and I was like, “This sounds great.” It’s a college reunion, but Abed [Danny Pudi’s character] is like this big director now, and basically this is his magnum opus. I’m like, “This sounds f**king tight.”

Maybe we’re not living in Abed’s darkest timeline after all.  

Originally published on November 4, 2022.

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Every DC Hero James Gunn Has Possibly Teased for the DCU

Unlike the previous administration, new DC Studios co-head James Gunn is very active on social media. Since DC announced him in the role, he’s been teasing the fans about which deep-cut characters from the pages of DC Comics might be on his mind concerning future projects. Gunn has done this with random image reveals. So far, he’s dropped a few comic book images of characters that might excite fans—including a few that have yet to appear in any live-action incarnations before. Some he teased, like Mister Terrific, were officially announced just months later. Let’s tally all the Gunn hints we’ve had so far, while remembering they might not actually be hints.

DC Studios/DC ComicsCaptain Atom

The latest post from James Gunn suggesting a possible classic hero coming to the DCU came as a response to a fan question. When asked if he liked the character of Captain Atom, he responded on his Instagram story saying “I’ve been a big Captain Atom fan for a long time.” He even added comic artwork to his response. We’d say that’s a possible hint that he has plans for Captain Atom.

James Gunn posted Captain Atom on his Instagram story and said he's a big fan of him on 🧵 🤔 pic.twitter.com/tK5yVwiiCN

— Home of DCU (@homeofdcu) February 5, 2024

So who is the good Captain? Like Peacemaker and Blue Beetle, he originated as a hero from the Charlton Comics line in the ’60s. DC bought those characters and absorbed them into the DC Universe proper in the ’80s. Nathaniel Adam was an Air Force officer who volunteered for an experiment involving nuclear power and alien alloy, in exchange for a pardon for a crime he didn’t commit. Disintegrated in the experiment, Adam reformed decades later, now fused with the alien metal, and wielding nuclear power.

DC Comics

Nathaniel Adam then became the government agent and superhero Captain Atom, and joined the Justice League International. He was also the basis for Doctor Manhattan in Watchmen, although slightly less powerful. Along with Booster Gold, Green Lantern Guy Gardner, and Maxwell Lord, he’d be another famous JLI character joining the DCU. We think that lends further credence to our theory that the Justice League International is on the way to the DCU.

The Terrifics

pic.twitter.com/Hu7ezUHqzG

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) March 29, 2023

James Gunn teased an image of the hero Mister Terrific back in 2022, a character later cast for Superman: Legacy. But now those plans seem to have expanded. He also shared an image of the DC heroes hovering around the Terrifics, a somewhat recent super team from DC Comics, introduced in 2018. The Terrifics are kind of a riff on Marvel’s Fantastic Four, as they are more explorer and adventurer types. Mister Terrific leads, and the other members include Plastic Man, the phasing Phantom Girl, and Metamorpho, who was also recently cast for Superman: Legacy. We could easily see them as subjects of a Max streaming series.

DC ComicsDeadman

Happiest of Halloweens to each of you. pic.twitter.com/1ssMacvBBu

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) October 31, 2022

On Halloween 2022, Gunn shared an image of one of DC Comics’ most prominent supernatural heroes, Deadman. Introduced by DC in the late ’60s, Deadman was circus performer Boston Brand. During a performance, a group of criminals murdered him. They (the supernatural powers that be) granted his soul the power to possess living people until he discovered who was behind his murder. In the meantime, he used the bodies he “borrowed” to help the innocent and fight various criminals.

DC Comics

Although a ghost, Brand’s spectral form still had his circus outfit and makeup he wore in his act. For the most part, he was essentially a superhero no one in the living world could see. However, a few mystical DC characters could perceive him. Despite being a prominent DC character for years, aside from a few animated appearances, we’ve never seen Deadman in live-action. From the look of things, James Gunn is hoping to change all that—unless he was just having some Halloween fun. Once upon a time, Guillermo del Toro talked about producing a Deadman project. Perhaps now is the time for that to finally happen.

Lobo

Creative head of DCU, James Gunn, drops a #Lobo pic https://t.co/6rSsASBkmp pic.twitter.com/juscjkdcqs

— SyL ☕#IYKYK (@sylabdul) November 8, 2022

And then, there’s the one that has everyone talking. Recently, Gunn posted an image of DC’s most famous intergalactic bounty hunter, Lobo, and fans got super excited. The “Main Man,” a huge seller back in the ’90s, was long rumored for a movie or TV project. In fact, it was reported Syfy was developing a Lobo TV series a few years ago, but nothing ever came of it.

DC Comics

With folks clamoring for Jason Momoa to play the role, including Momoa himself, it seems now would be the right time to see the space biker finally get a movie of his own. The character is an over-the-top send-up of tough-guy characters, but handled correctly, he made for some very funny comics. We think the comedy sensibilities of the character feel right in James Gunn’s wheelhouse, too.

Kingdom Come

Maybe the post that had fans most excited came on November 30. Gunn simply tweeted out the words “Making plans” accompanied by an image by artist Alex Ross from his seminal series Kingdom Come. That comic was all about an older Justice League vs their younger, more violent successors in an End Times scenario. Now, on the surface, it’s just Superman around a table with other heroes literally making plans. It’s probably just Gunn’s fun way of teasing his upcoming DC Studios plans, using an image of their headlining heroes.

Making plans. pic.twitter.com/cubPgga066

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) November 30, 2022

On the other hand, he also used this same Alex Ross illustration as his featured image on his Hive Social account. Could he have something cooking for Kingdom Come? It seems way too soon for a live-action adaptation. You need to reestablish the Justice League first as a viable franchise. However, Gunn recently stated that DC Studios planned to incorporate animation as well. It’s at least a possibility.

Again James Gunn could just be posting random images of all of these characters and stories he likes. Time will tell.

Originally published November 16, 2022.

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Scott Gimple Says THE WALKING DEAD Spinoffs Could Have a Crossover Reunion Event

The Walking Dead is over but, as we know, the end of the flagship series that’s been in fans’ hearts for over a decade doesn’t mean this world is done. The show already has had five spinoff series, Fear the Walking Dead, Tales of the Walking Dead, The Walking Dead: World Beyond, The Walking Dead: Dead City, and The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon on TV. The latter, starring Maggie and Negan, is returning for a second season in the future along with Daryl’s spinoff. Rick and Michonne are coming back together for The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live and it seems their series might get a second season too, according to Scott Gimple.

As fans know, Rick Grimes was supposed to get three movies but now it is the limited series alongside Michonne. The Ones Who Live is meant to wrap up their storylines; however, Gimple says there might be more story to tell. “Anything is possible — even if Rick dies in the last episode, anything is possible,” he said to Deadline. “We’re focused on this one right now. But this one came together in a really amazing way, where there were all sorts of plans. And then the world changed and we altered those plans.”

AMC Networks

We certainly hope Rick doesn’t die because there are so many reunions that need to happen. Morgan is out there looking for Rick, Daryl will eventually return to the US to find Rick, and there’s the rest of his found family back home. All signs seem to be pointing to a crossover event, which Gimple wants to happen.

“I do have dreams of merging this all together, and I have laid little breadcrumbs toward that, but you never know exactly when and how [it will come together], because of a variety of reasons,” he told TVLine. As long as The Walking Dead franchise is getting money and attention from fans, it will surely keep making more spinoff content. That’s fine with us but please, please don’t follow the comics and kill Rick Grimes.

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Will Bring Rick and Michonne Back in February 2024

The show’s final trailer gives us a major glimpse into Rick’s life with the Civic Republic as well as Michonne’s journey to find him. They have to face perhaps their biggest opponent yet: the Civic Republic Military.

The Walking Dead‘s final panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2022 gave us the biggest news of all: a Rick Grimes and Michonne series was coming soon. Two years later, we finally know that The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live will have a release date of February 25, 2024. Rick and Michonne’s return is oh-so-close after years of waiting.

Here’s a breakdown of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live:

This series presents an epic love story of two characters changed by a changed world. Kept apart by distance. By an unstoppable power. By the ghosts of who they were. Rick and Michonne are thrown into another world, built on a war against the dead… And ultimately, a war against the living. Can they find each other and who they were in a place and situation unlike any they’ve ever known before? Are they enemies? Lovers? Victims? Victors? Without each other, are they even alive — or will they find that they, too, are the Walking Dead?

AMC

The name of this Rick and Michonne series should be familiar to fans. Rick first said the phrase “we are the ones who live” back in season five while chatting with Deanna about his group. And, we heard Richonne as well as many other characters say that phrase in The Walking Dead‘s finale episode. So it holds a lot of significance to Rick and Michonne’s individual and collective journeys.

AMC Networks

We certainly can’t wait to see Rick and Michonne together again.

There’s also some casting news. Per Deadline, Lucifer alumna Lesley-Ann Brandt will portray Pearl Thorne. Details about that character are currently unknown. We also know that The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live will bring back Pollyanna McIntosh as Jadis. This isn’t shocking considering she’s the one who took Rick away in that helicopter.

Years ago, she picked up a very wounded Rick Grimes and flew off in a CRM helicopter. And, for those who didn’t watch World Beyond, Jadis indeed traded him to the CRM and started working for the organization. In an Entertainment Weekly interview, actress Pollyanna McIntosh gives more info about what Jadis is up to as well as a new image of her. She still has terrible hair, apparently.

“There will be some of the Jadis that you will recognize from World Beyond,” McIntosh said. “She is in the position of Warrant Officer Jadis Stokes. She is still working with the Civic Republic and the Civic Republic Military. So she’s a committed follower of the CRM, but people are not just their jobs, and the old Jadis that we got to know and who has tried her best but has lost many times is a big driving undercurrent of where she’s coming from.”

Terry O’Quinn and Matt Jeffries will portray Beale and Nat, respectively. Now, we know a little more about Major General Beale, a CRM leader and enemy of our beloved Rick Grimes. In an Entertainment Weekly interview, actor Terry O’Quinn spoke more about his character:

“He is the leader of the Civic Republic military and it operates pretty independently of the Civic Republic government,” the actor said. “So he doesn’t really have to deal with them very much. And he’s held in high esteem. He’s kind of a hero. He has a long military history. He served two terms in Vietnam and went to officer training school. And he’s had to make some decisions in terms of who lives and who dies and how to deal with the mass of walking dead.

Terry O'Quinn shares intel on his 'Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live' character, and we have the exclusive first photo of Major General Beale. https://t.co/OdQhhq154f

— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) January 9, 2024

He has a big army, but he has about 2,000 of his front liners. They’re his elite corps and they do most of the work, be it dirty or not dirty. He makes decisions based on what he thinks will help his community survive. And it’s completely that he’s trying to make sure that this city survives, so he makes some tough decisions.”

During a Walking Dead preview, Gimple warns us that we will see “Red Machete Rick” again. Remember him? He was the one with the brown murder jacket who was a lot unhinged around seasons five and six. This is probably not a good thing but if anyone can bring him back to normal, it is Michonne. We got a glimpse of Rick in The Walking Dead‘s final episode and he looks like hell. But that scene is from the past so he’s presumably in an even worse state at this point. And, there’s also Michonne with her new gear, braving the world alone. Love to see it. Will their show end with an Alexandria reunion? We hope so.

Curtis Bonds Baker/AMCThe Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season Two – “The Book of Carol” Is Coming

We are done with the first season of Daryl Dixon’s adventure, but there is already great news about his show’s second season. The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon will bring Carol back next season. We don’t know if she will also end up in France or if they will meet in some odd middle. Either way, it will be good to see those besties together again. A new teaser shows that next season will focus a lot on Carol’s journey.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, showrunner David Zabel gave fans more insight into season two. He reveals that the Nest is a prominent location in season two and Carol’s previous comment about some mystery person coming back will come into play. “There’s also another clue… this moment in the radio call in episode 5 where she talks about something or someone having come back,” said Zabel. “And the impression we get, and Daryl also gets, is that something’s a little off for her, something’s wrong. And so that’s going to also function into the story for Carol in season 2.”

We cannot wait to see how it all unfolds. In the meantime, we look forward to the return of the great Rick Grimes and Michonne.

A lot is happening in The Walking Dead universe and there will surely be more details about other spinoffs if they happen. There’s plenty left to explore in the land of the dead, so let’s keep walking right towards these spinoffs.

Originally published on April 7, 2022.

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