The Walking Dead spin-offs are not impacted by strikes, so why the long wait for the Rick and Michonne show?

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live
(Image credit: AMC)

Apparently, The Walking Dead’s upcoming slate of shows will not be impacted by the ongoing WGA and SAG/AFTRA strikes. In a new update from AMC Networks’ CEO Kristin Dolan via Deadline, she explained in a recent earnings call that the disputes won’t threaten the network’s content until "well into 2024."

"In the short term, the reality for AMC Networks is that we have a pipeline of finished shows that will allow us to continue to serve our viewers across all of our platforms for the remainder of this year and well into 2024," Dolan explains. Among that slate is a whole host of shows from The Walking Dead universe, including the upcoming Rick and Michonne spin-off.

The series, which is now titled The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, has already wrapped filming. However, its release date still isn’t until 2024, which has left us wondering why there’s such a long wait before it hits our screens. We’d initially thought potentially some of the ongoing strike action may have delayed things, but these new updates make it seem that’s not the case. 

In truth, though, there’s a whole multitude of reasons we may have to wait a while to see the show. There’s undoubtedly a lot of post-production work thanks to the fantasy elements, as well as the fact there may be some story reasons it needs to be held. As you’re probably aware, we have another spin-off coming soon: The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, which launches in September.

Whatever the reasoning behind it, the wait is painful, but we’re sure it will be worth it to see Andrew Lincoln’s and Danai Gurira’s long-awaited reunion on screen. Judging by the first teaser trailer, it’s going to be an emotional one too, as the creators promise an "epic love story". 

For more on The Walking Dead universe, here's our guide to watching The Walking Dead franchise in order and our ultimate Walking Dead recap.

Fay Watson
Deputy Entertainment Editor

I’m the Deputy Entertainment Editor here at GamesRadar+, covering TV and film for the Total Film and SFX sections online. I previously worked as a Senior Showbiz Reporter and SEO TV reporter at Express Online for three years. I've also written for The Resident magazines and Amateur Photographer, before specializing in entertainment.

Read more
Andrew Lincoln as Rick in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live
Netflix just added the highest rated Walking Dead spin-off for you to binge
Andrew Lincoln as Rick in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live
How to watch The Walking Dead franchise in order (release and chronological)
Lauren Cohan as Maggie and Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan in The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2
The Walking Dead: Dead City promises "higher stakes" season 2, as AMC reveals opening two minutes and release date
The Last of Us season 2 first look
The best new TV shows coming your way in 2025
Pedro Pascal as Joel in The Last of Us season 2 first look
The Last of Us season 2 release date, cast, plot, trailer, and more news
Eleven holding out her hand in Stranger Things
Stranger Things season 5 releasing in 2025 might not be a certainty as its creators admit that target is "quite the push"
Latest in Sci-Fi Shows
Ncuti Gatwa in Doctor Who season 2
Doctor Who fans think they've spotted a tease for surprise villains in new season 2 trailer
The Xenomorph in Alien: Earth
New look at Alien: Earth has fans theorizing over whether they can hear a Predator in the background
Varada Sethu and Ncuti Gatwa in Doctor Who season 2
The first full-length trailer for Doctor Who season 2 is here – and fans think they've spotted the mysterious Mrs. Flood
Diego Luna as Cassian Andor in Andor season 2
Star Wars fans are convinced a Rebels planet shows up in the Andor season 2 trailer
Eleven in Stranger Things season 4, episode 9
Stranger Things season 5 is so top secret, even Eleven star Millie Bobby Brown won't see the full episodes before their release
Doctor Who season 2
Doctor Who season 2 reveals release date that's very soon after leak – and announces an X-Men guest star
Latest in News
Dragon Age Inquisition
Dragon Age actor says the last time he played Inquisition, he upheld the RPG tradition led by Baldur's Gate 3 actors and romanced his own character: "Which is the best — the best"
Monster Hunter Wilds
Capcom promises "this is just the start for the next generation of Monster Hunter" as Wilds shatters sales milestones: "The Guild authorizes this celebration!"
Lester sitting at a computer in some artwork for GTA Online
Some GTA 5 players can't bring their characters to the new PC upgrade, and the open-world game's mixed Steam reviews are hammering FPS caps and a lack of text chat
Kamala Khan holds Jean Grey's body in an homage to the cover of Uncanny X-Men #136
45 years after the original Dark Phoenix Saga, Ms. Marvel Kamala Khan will travel back in time to save X-Men history
Assassin's Creed Shadows screenshot showing Yasuke kneeling and praying while wearing a traditional purple robe
Assassin's Creed Shadows is the first game in the series with "a fully customizable sandbox" as your base, which is where Yasuke and Naoe hang out and pet baby animals
Monster Hunter Wilds screenshot of spider boss Nerscylla
Monster Hunter Wilds takes an infamously rare and annoying material from the old games and absolutely buries you in it – and also buries you in tiny spiders