The Walking Dead has confirmed that it will be coming to an end after its 11th season. Few of the original characters remain at this point, and the long-time ones who are still around will likely be dwindled down significantly by the final season's halfway point.
Who will survive and who will perish? Fans will have to wait and see. But more importantly, what long gone characters might come back? There are some who are already confirmed, some who viewers want to see, and others that aren't technically people but are still considered "characters" in their own way.
Michonne
Michonne left in the last season, on the hunt to find Rick who she believes might be alive. And while the character may appear in the spin-off movies that will star Andrew Lincoln in the role of Rick, her days on the main series of The Walking Dead are reportedly done.
Still, wouldn't it be great to see one last cameo of Michonne? It might just be her getting a message out to Judith that she's getting close. Or maybe she comes back home to pack up her things and leave for good, with Judith and R.J. in tow. Nonetheless, one final hurrah would be amazing.
Rick
Chances are slim that Rick will come back to Alexandria or The Kingdom, but maybe there's a way he could be shown in some fashion. It might be a final minute that teases the movies to come, or it could be a flashback or even flash forward. Nonetheless, for the series to come full circle, it would be great to see Rick in some capacity one last time— even if it is just a teaser for the upcoming films.
Virgil
Given that he is seen in the season 10 final episode trailer, chances are high that Virgil will indeed return. The last that was known of him, he had opted to stay on a remote island by himself to grieve his lost family.
Clearly, he eventually came to his senses, made his way off the island, and decided to find Michonne and join her group. Whatever role he ends up playing in the events of the final season, he'll probably be around for at least a short while.
Heath
Just as the Saviors storyline was getting good, Heath disappeared with no explanation. He wasn't killed and no one really mentioned him again. The real reason is that the actor left to pursue another TV role, but that leaves the door open for the surprise return of a character who had a much larger role in the comics.
Many fans believe that Heath will show up in the spin-off movies with the group that has the helicopters, which would explain his lengthy absence.
Glenn
Yes, Glenn is long dead so there's no way of bringing him back as a live person. But Maggie having visions of Glenn when she's trying to make a tough decision or thinking about how he might have been as a dad would be bittersweet.
At the very least, flashback scenes with Glenn are necessary to make fans feel a little better about the huge role he had on the show as a long-time fan favorite who met an unsatisfying end now that it is coming to a close.
Maggie
Another character on this list that fans know for sure is returning is Maggie, who's also featured in the season 10 final episode trailer. She is seen reading a letter urging her to come back, confirming the death of several people including Enid and Tara.
The look on her face suggests that she realizes it's time and knows it's the right thing to do to get her new community on board with helping her old friends.
Beta's Real Face
Beta is definitely going to be seen in the final season, but will he continue to wear his skin mask? It has been all but confirmed that he was a country superstar prior to the apocalypse, which means he knows he would be instantly recognized should he remove the mask.
Wouldn't it be amazing to see the looks on everyone's faces when they realize the mentally unstable killer they have been fearing all this time used to strum a guitar and sing like an angel in the "old world?"
Cyndie
The Kingdom and Alexandria are still working with Oceanside, but the leader of that all-female community, Cyndie, hasn't been seen much. She was last seen being told about Siddiq's death and about Dante. In fact, it was her people who found and captured Virgil and worked out a deal for her to get weapons from him in exchange for a boat.
She is scheduled to appear in the upcoming season 10 finale episode, so this wish will be fulfilled. But how big a role she will have in the final season remains to be seen.
Lucille
Lucille is not a person, but Negan's trusty barbed wire bat that has seen plenty of bloodshed and cracked numerous skulls. Lucille has been missing for awhile— could "her" return mark a switch in Negan?
Lucille is named after Negan's late wife, who passed away from cancer. The location of Lucille the bat is unknown. But Negan or someone else finding it would be totally symbolic. Another option would be to finally see what the real Lucille looked like through Negan's vision or memories.
Connie
Connie's fate still remains unknown. While it was presumed that she was dead, Magna revealing that the two of them did indeed get out of the collapsed cave alive suggests that Connie is out there somewhere.
Given that fans now know that Connie didn't perish in the cave, there's a high chance that she will pop up in the final season— and potentially become a romantic interest for Daryl. But most importantly, she will probably play a role in helping take down the Whisperers once and for all.