The Walking Dead universe is continuing to expand with its third spinoff series: Tales of the Walking Dead. Set to premiere in the summer of 2022, the anthology series will follow characters new and old as untold portions of their stories are finally seen on-screen.
This streaming show will give fans the opportunity to spend time with characters that are no longer active in AMC's hit series. The original show and its two spinoffs, Fear the Walking Dead and World Beyond, have a wealth of fan-favorite characters that audiences would love to see inherit their own episode of the upcoming anthology.
Heath
The ultimate issue for Heath was timing. The Alexandria resident is a major part of the comics and was expected to fulfill the same role in the television show. However, the character only appeared in a meager six episodes before mysteriously disappearing. Corey Hawkins, who portrayed Heath, hit his career stride right as he began his time on the show, departing before he could make any kind of impact.
Many fans may feel cheated by Heath's early exit, especially because the mystery of his disappearance has not been explored in the five years since it occurred. The character is rumored to appear in the upcoming Rick Grimes movies, which would make it all the more timely to explore what happened to him after his disappearance in season 7.
Glenn Rhee
Glenn Rhee, played by Steven Yeun, was a fan favorite among the audience of The Walking Dead. One of the first survivors that Rick Grimes met and a moral compass for much of the series, Glenn was able to provide a ray of light and hope in an otherwise dark world. In many ways, the show was never the same again after his murder at the hands of Negan in the season 7 premiere.
Fans would no doubt jump at the chance to spend just a little bit more time with one of their dearly departed favorites. Though much of Glenn's story has already been told, an episode revolving around him could potentially explore how he survived in the early days of the apocalypse, and how he ended up with Shane's group before meeting Rick.
Simon
Negan's right-hand man Simon, portrayed by Steven Ogg, was just as dastardly as his boss. So much so that he often clashed with the leader of the Saviors, believing that he could lead them better. In the end, Negan was forced to kill his lieutenant in hand-to-hand combat in order to preserve his own status as an undisputed leader.
Simon's backstory is completely unexplored in The Walking Dead. Though lines of dialogue hint that he may have had a history leading the Saviors in some way before Negan showed up, audiences have yet to see the character's past at all. An episode devoted to Simon and the Saviors pre-Negan may prove to be a very intriguing entry into the anthology of the TWD universe.
Beta
Another lieutenant to a TWD Big Bad is Beta, the most trusted soldier of Alpha, the leader of the Whisperers. Unlike Simon, Beta outlived his leader and took her place after her death, proving to be a worthwhile TWD villain by marching his troops into Alexandria in an attempt to kill the main characters. In the end, Beta was killed by his legion of walkers after being stabbed by Daryl Dixon.
One interesting reveal toward the end of Beta's arc was that he was a famous country singer before the start of the outbreak. Clearly, at some point in between then and when the audience met him, he descended quite quickly into madness. It would be very intriguing to be able to witness this fall, as the once-beloved musician became the snarling maniac that fans loved to hate.
Siddiq
Siddiq was a late addition to the Alexandrian forces during the All-Out War, but an invaluable one, as he was medically trained. Though his introduction to the group cost Carl's life, fans quickly forgave the character when he proved willing to pull his weight in the group and help them survive in a decaying world. Unfortunately, Siddiq was betrayed by an undercover Whisperer in season 10 and was killed with Rosita and their child the next room over.
Because he didn't meet up with the group until season 8, Siddiq has plenty of history that has yet to be explored. There are several years between the beginning of the outbreak and Carl discovering Siddiq on the road, and the survivor surely had plenty of experiences out there by himself.
Althea
Introduced in season 4 and already one of Fear the Walking Dead's best characters, Maggie Grace's Althea has played a major role in the lore-building of the TWD universe. Not only has she been instrumental in the survival of Morgan's group, but she has had run-ins with the mysterious CRM, a group that seems to be wrapped up in the plot of the anticipated Rick Grimes films.
Althea is a unique character in the way that she views the apocalypse. A reporter before the Fall, Al sought out important stories to document as she went along, recording them on cassette tapes in her vehicle. It would be fascinating to spend an episode following Al as she collects these stories before she ever comes across Morgan and his group.
King Ezekiel
The introduction of King Ezekiel and the Kingdom was one of the few bright spots in the often maligned 7th and 8th seasons of the original series. Ezekiel's flair for the dramatic was only superseded by his kindness, something that he demonstrated in taking in Carol after she was gravely wounded by a Savior soldier. He remains an important part of the core group to this day.
Though Ezekiel's kingdom eventually fell, fans still have yet to see how it came to be. An episode following Ezekiel's rise to power could show him forming his outlandish persona--and feature other beloved characters like Jerry and, of course, Ezekiel's tiger Shiva.
Michonne
Played by the multi-talented Danai Gurira, Michonne is an iconic character in the TWD fandom. Wielding her signature sword, Michonne has proven to be one TWD's capable fighters and took a leadership position in Alexandria after Rick's supposed death. It was only recently that she exited the series in search of her once thought deceased lover, and there is still promise of her return someday.
Fans know little about Michonne's time before meeting the group, other than the tragic loss of her child early on in the apocalypse. They do know, however, that she was in a dark place for much of that time period. With Gurira's bountiful acting skills, an installment following Michonne's early days would be a natural hit.
Sasha and Tyreese Williams
Sasha Williams and her brother Tyreese were leaders of their own small group before meeting Rick, and eventually became leaders in his group as well. Tyreese met his early end in season 5's mid-season premiere, and his sister two seasons later when she sacrificed her life in an attempt to kill Negan and his forces.
The Williams family certainly has a bounty of stories to tell about their time before arriving at Woodbury. Fans have yet to see how the two came to meet Allen, Donna, and the other members of their group, and how they initially located the prison where they first met Rick and company.
Abraham Ford (and Co.)
Abraham Ford and the actor who plays him, Michael Cudlitz, refuse to stay away from The Walking Dead even years after Abraham was executed by Negan in the season 7 premiere. The character has returned in flashbacks, and the actor himself has taken on a directorial role for several TWD universe projects since.
Fans will remember that Abraham and his group, which included Rosita Espinosa and Eugene Porter, were introduced as the last members of a team trying to get to Washington D.C. to find a cure for the zombie virus. However, the show never opted to explore this mission but has only hinted at what they went through along the way. Fans are still curious about this time, and would surely enjoy an episode devoted to explaining its events.