The Walking Dead's Chief Creative Officer Scott Gimple says that the anthology show Tales of The Walking Dead will feature episodes focused on old characters. When it was announced that The Walking Dead would finally, and a few seasons too late, end with season 11 in 2022, two spin-off shows that take place in the universe were also announced. The first will follow Carol (Melissa McBride) and Daryl (Norman Reedus) while the other will be an anthology series, titled Tales of The Walking Dead, focusing on different characters and stories each episode.
So far, it's been announced that the show will be something of a departure from the regular style employed by the three shows in The Walking Dead universe, which include the first spin-off Fear The Walking Dead as well as the recently launched World Beyond. Gimple has already said that the content of the show will vary, from horrors to black comedy, as well as more out-there ideas, like musical episodes and animated tales. Those hints make it sound like the universe is looking to get away from the more standard survivors vs walkers story lines. But it's not all going to be new.
Speaking at today's New York Comic-Con panel on all things The Walking Dead, Gimple revealed that Tales of The Walking Dead will indeed feature classic characters from the original series. Gimple teases brand new characters and situations too, but says there will be space to explore more of the backstories of characters who are more familiar to fans of the franchise. He also teases that it might delve into the future of certain characters too, meaning that characters who survive the series finale in 2022 might not be done yet. You can read his full comments below:
“It’s to see more of these characters and more of the things that made them who they are, and then as they move into the future. We’re going to see brand new characters and brand new situations, but we really want to keep up with all these amazing characters that the audience still loves so much. It might be their past, it might be their future.”
From the sounds of it, Gimple and the rest of the team aren't ready to say goodbye to their original stars just yet. There is the possibility that fan favorites Carol and Daryl, as well as Andrew Lincoln's Rick Grimes might appear in Tales of The Walking Dead. Though, given that the former duo are getting their own spinoff, while Rick is set to get three solo movies that will tell his tale, it's unlikely. More likely is other popular characters, like Beta, Ezekiel or Glenn could potentially feature.
While a number of the actors have left the show, it would be easier to get them to return for a one-off episode than having to commit to an entire season of TV. The possibilities are, hopefully, endless and it's one of the reasons that TWD fans have hope that Tales of The Walking Dead will be a more interesting spin-off than those which have come before. Perhaps the show will help revitalize the reputation of TWD before the Grimes movies hit the big screen.
Source: NYCC