Warning: spoilers ahead for The Walking Dead's series finale.
The future looks bright for the remaining survivors of The Walking Dead - most of them, at least. The Walking Dead's ending is simultaneously conclusive and completely open-ended. On one hand, "Rest In Peace" provides a "happily ever after" montage for those who reach the end alive, but The Walking Dead leaves no doubt that a new threat is coming to wipe smiles off faces. Dealing primarily with the resolution of The Walking Dead season 11's Commonwealth arc, the main survivors successfully overthrow Pamela Milton and end the socio-economic disparity within the Commonwealth. A one-year time jump depicts how happy everybody is for this regime change.
Alas, that happiness feels somewhat borrowed. Rick Grimes and Michonne remain missing, while Daryl is heading out into the wilderness to uncover more information about the changing post-apocalypse. As Alexandria, the Commonwealth, Hilltop and, presumably, Oceanside laugh and hug, the shadow of the Civic Republic Military is gradually growing darker, and a clash begins to feel inevitable if Rick is to ever be reunited with his family. This is what the future holds for The Walking Dead's series finale survivors.
Rick Grimes
AMC's The Walking Dead series finale sees the return of Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, and broadly reveals where the character has been since being flown away by a Civic Republic Military helicopter in The Walking Dead season 9. Apparently not rubbing along well with his new hosts, Rick is being held captive within the Civic Republic. An escape attempt launched sometime before Michonne's exit in The Walking Dead season 10 failed, and audiences must assume Rick remains in their custody during the current timeline. Andrew Lincoln will return in a spinoff series with Danai Gurira's Michonne, expected to premiere in late 2023.
The new project will almost certainly now chart Rick's CRM escape. Even if he can break free, however, returning to Alexandria and leading the CRM directly to his family would be unwise. Rick Grimes may have no choice but to take the entire organization down, potentially setting up a wider The Walking Dead future that pits Rick and his growing list of allies against the might of Major General Beale and the Civic Republic Military. Come what may for Rick Grimes, he needs to find some new boots first.
Daryl Dixon
Having quelled the Commonwealth civil war with a stirring speech, Daryl Dixon deserves a happy ending as much as anyone in The Walking Dead. Regardless, Daryl eschews a quiet life in the Commonwealth for further adventures. When Connie asks Daryl, "How's the frontier?" after The Walking Dead's one-year time jump, she implies that Daryl has avoided making roots in any one location, flitting between communities and scouting the surrounding land instead. To that end, Maggie assigns Daryl a special task to find out about the wider post-apocalyptic world.
Maggie's words are vague, but imply that she seeks information on the Walking Dead zombie virus and why the undead are evolving, as well as the potential existence of other large communities nearby. Maggie's mission neatly sets up the Daryl Dixon spinoff, which is currently in production ahead of a 2023 premiere. Norman Reedus' character will head to France, which is where the outbreak began according to The Walking Dead: World Beyond, but Daryl also promises Judith he will keep watch for signs of Rick and Michonne, teasing a potential crossover between spinoffs.
Michonne Grimes
Joining Rick Grimes on The Walking Dead's list of series finale returnees is Danai Gurira as Michonne. Last seen searching for Rick in The Walking Dead season 10, Michonne's hunt is seemingly ongoing without success. Michonne herself, however, has clearly changed a great deal. Aside from wearing a unique armor that hints toward an as-yet-untold backstory, Michonne is now alone, casting a mystery over what happened to the caravan of survivors she located during her previous The Walking Dead appearance. Michonne's most obvious change, however, is her renewed warrior's spirit, which shines more fiercely than ever after so long searching for Rick in the wild.
Gurira will return alongside Andrew Lincoln in AMC's Rick and Michonne The Walking Dead spinoff series, and her cameo in the main show's finale hints at their future plans. The Rick & Michonne sequel will likely explain how the latter came to be alone, how she got her armor, and what trials she faced during her journey. Sooner or later, however, the story will inevitably shift toward what happens to Michonne after the long-awaited The Walking Dead series finale ending, and whether she eventually finds out where Rick Grimes is being held.
Maggie Rhee
By the ending of The Walking Dead's "Rest In Peace" finale, Maggie Rhee is back as the leader of a rebuilt Hilltop, living in relative happiness with her son, Hershel. Maggie has also realized that the zombie apocalypse still holds many secrets, and is keen to crack them. Lauren Cohan will reprise her role in The Walking Dead: Dead City, set to release in early 2023. The premise involves Cohan's Maggie joining Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan on a trip to New York, but this new adventure is only half set up by The Walking Dead's ending.
On one hand, Maggie and Negan do establish a working relationship. Able to trust each other in a sticky situation, Maggie and Negan are the pair who get the group's dirty work done. If a dark problem arises and Maggie feels unable to send someone else to complete the mission, she and Negan could saddle up and handle things alone. That may be how the Walking Dead Maggie and Negan spinoff comes about, but Maggie looks so settled in Hilltop at the end of "Rest In Peace," whatever propels her and Negan to New York must be grim indeed.
Carol Peletier
Melissa McBride's Carol Peletier was originally scheduled to appear alongside Daryl in his The Walking Dead spinoff, but shifting the action to France prevented her from taking part. That may explain why Maggie actually asks Daryl and Carol both to learn more about the wider world during The Walking Dead's ending, before an isolated scene between McBride and Norman Reedus then explains Carol is unable to join him. Carol has apparently adopted Lance Hornsby's role at the Commonwealth - albeit without the spies, murder, and corruption.
The Walking Dead does at least tease Carol for a future appearance somewhere in the franchise, as Daryl promises the two best friends will see each other again. This is unlikely to happen during Daryl Dixon due to the French setting, but given the nature of Daryl's mission, he must return home sooner or later to report his shocking findings. Melissa McBride may also cameo in The Walking Dead: Dead City or the Rick & Michonne spinoff, which are both set on US shores.
Negan & Annie Smith
Strangely, Jeffrey Dean Morgan's Negan fails to appear in The Walking Dead's farewell tour of the allied communities, while Medina Senghore's Annie is absent from the entire episode. Nevertheless, Negan giving Lydia a gift for Judith implies the Smith family either live at Hilltop, or are situated close enough by to entertain visitors. Negan's ending is ambiguous, but given his lingering animosity with Maggie, it would make sense if he and the other Riverbend survivors were dwelling somewhere near Hilltop's borders but on separate soil. The laws of biology dictate Annie must have given birth during The Walking Dead series finale's time jump, but the child's name is not given.
Negan gifting Judith's compass back to her serves as a metaphor, proving how the former villain has found the direction he lacked during The Walking Dead season 9. Regardless, Jeffrey Dean Morgan will return as Negan in 2023's The Walking Dead: Dead City, joining Maggie on the mean streets of New York City. The motivation for their journey remains a mystery, but similar to Maggie and Hershel, the threat must be dire for Negan to leave his wife and young child at home.
Gabriel Stokes
Everyone's favorite gun-toting priest appears to lay his hat in Alexandria when The Walking Dead ends, naturally taking custody of young Coco due to Rosita tragically dying. Gabriel also finds redemption in The Walking Dead's finale, opening the gates to his congregation at the Commonwealth to atone for shutting his pre-apocalypse congregation out. Seth Gilliam has not been announced to partake in any upcoming The Walking Dead spinoffs, but his shooting skills would certainly come in useful if a war erupted between his people and the CRM.
Ezekiel Sutton
The Walking Dead's series finale confirms that Ezekiel has taken over as Governor of the Commonwealth, marking a 180-flip from his reluctance to lead people after the Kingdom collapsed in season 9. Whether Ezekiel was appointed or democratically elected remains ambiguous, but his Outpost 22 stand against oppression and the inspiring speech that rallied his people to fight by Mercer's side blatantly positioned the former petting zoo manager to accept the crown of leadership. As the Commonwealth's Governor, Khary Payton could potentially feature in future The Walking Dead spinoffs, although his future presence has not been announced.
Aaron
Surviving until the end of The Walking Dead, Ross Marquand's Aaron lives at Alexandria with his adopted daughter Gracie, marking another happy ending in the zombie apocalypse. Aaron's situation reflects that of Gabriel and Ezekiel. None of the trio are confirmed to appear in spinoffs, but if The Walking Dead ever returns to Alexandria, or if the CRM ever decides to visit Rick's hometown, all three would be expected to feature.
Judith & RJ Grimes
Judith Grimes and her mostly-silent brother, RJ, both stay in the Commonwealth when The Walking Dead ends, presumably enjoying the benefits of school, festivals and vinyl Motörhead records. Rick and Michonne's children are highly likely to appear in future Walking Dead projects, as the series finale openly teases Judith's wish for a family reunion. The Walking Dead franchise would feel incomplete if Rick Grimes never met his son or witnessed the young ass-kicker Judith has grown into, meaning the Rick & Michonne spinoff is where this reunion will most likely happen. Depending on when these hypothetical scenes take place, the Judith and RJ roles may be taken by new actors.
Eugene Porter & Max Mercer
Devastated by Rosita's death but determined to push forward in her honor, Josh McDermitt's Eugene and Margot Bingham's Max are still together when The Walking Dead ends. They also have a young daughter named "Rosie" in honor of Rosita, and the entire Porter family lives inside the Commonwealth. Given how Eugene and Max in The Walking Dead both have a penchant for radio communication, they might be the first to discover any potential message from Rick or Michonne.
Pamela Milton
The Walking Dead's ending is deliberately vague in revealing the fate of Pamela Milton. Maggie's decision to leave Pamela alive, however, strongly suggests that the Commonwealth's former Governor would still be rotting in a cell after the year-long time jump. Although Laila Robins is not expected to appear in any upcoming The Walking Dead spinoffs, the series finale failed to reveal the mysterious Commonwealth "alliances" Lance Hornsby mentioned. Another unsolved Commonwealth mystery after The Walking Dead's final episode is the true nature of Designation 2. These dangling threads tease a potential role for Pamela in The Walking Dead's future.
Connie & Kelly
Sisters Connie and Kelly are both Commonwealth residents when The Walking Dead ends. Little is said about Angel Theory's Kelly, but Lauren Ridloff's Connie is revealed as the new editor of the Commonwealth Tribune, ensuring the newspaper remains impartial after years of Milton oppression. Sadly, Daryl's continued adventures appear to have nixed any hope for romance, although the pair evidently remain close and their attraction is painfully obvious. Given how The Walking Dead never paid off the romance between Lauren Ridloff and Norman Reedus' characters, the potential for Connie to return in Daryl Dixon and write one final chapter in their frustratingly slow love story remains open.
Yumiko Okumura & Magna
Basking in the afterglow of a hard-earned victory, Eleanor Matsuura's Yumiko and Nadia Hilker's Magna rekindle their romance in The Walking Dead's series finale, and are then spotted watching Ezekiel's commemorative speech from a blanket on the Commonwealth lawn. Yumiko's brother, Tomi, is presumably also nearby. Neither Yumiko nor Magna is given a reason to return in The Walking Dead, but both find themselves occupying an awkward middle ground where their absence would feel strange if future spinoffs ever brought the action back to Alexandria, Hilltop and the Commonwealth.
Jerry & Nabila
When Jerry bid farewell to Aaron and headed out to locate Elijah in The Walking Dead season 11's "Family," viewers would have been justified in fearing the worst for Cooper Andrews' endearing character. Fortunately, Jerry returns to his people alive, and is spotted with Nabila at Alexandria in The Walking Dead's round-up ending. Curiously, Jerry is wearing Renaissance garb and carrying a sword at his hip. A fashion choice it may be, but the getup could also imply Jerry holds a leadership position at Alexandria - a future Aaron teased with his "King Jerry" quip during The Walking Dead season 11's "Variant" episode.
Princess & Michael Mercer
Despite Carol apparently taking over Lance Hornsby's role, Michael James Shaw's Michael Mercer is officially appointed as the Commonwealth's Lieutenant Governor, operating as Ezekiel's right-hand man. Princess, meanwhile, watches on as a proud girlfriend. Neither character has a personal connection to Rick Grimes, but if hostilities break out between the CRM and Rick Grimes, Mercer would surely be leading the assault.
Lydia & Elijah
Still together and seemingly based at Hilltop, Lydia appears to be working as something of a courier, delivering parcels from Negan to Judith and then another to Father Gabriel from his old Commonwealth congregation. Neither Cassady McClincy's Lydia nor Okea Eme-Akwari's Elijah are likely to appear in The Walking Dead's future projects unless a mass crossover occurs further down the line. Elijah's miraculous survival created a happy ending that effectively draws a line under their story.
Oceanside
While The Walking Dead's final episode reveals the futures of Alexandria, Hilltop and the Commonwealth, Oceanside is largely ignored. The community's status remained unknown after Luke and Jules fled the Commonwealth invasion, leaving the fates of characters such as Rachel, Cyndie and Virgil unclear. The Walking Dead's only clue comes when Eugene talks about teaching Coco how to swim at Oceanside, implying the settlement is still standing.