Is a Broadway Musical for The Walking Dead in the Works?

Walking Dead icon Danai Gurira recently reprised her role as Michonne in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live spinoff. This series featured the much-anticipated reunion between Michonne and Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), a couple separated for many years. AMC has several other spinoffs in development, and in an interview with SFX magazine, the award-winning actress touched on the possibility of a musical adaptation of The Walking Dead.

Gurira revealed that she and TWD Chief Content Officer Scott M. Gimple had discussions about a musical adaptation. While these talks have occurred, it’s highly unlikely that the idea will come to fruition. Nonetheless, Gurira mentioned that stranger things have been done and expressed her fondness for the theater.

Several obstacles hinder the possibility of this adaptation, primarily the fact that they don’t have the rights to the content. Gurira jokingly said they should talk to comic creator Robert Kirkman.

“Me and [Scott] Gimple are actually chatting about it, which is ridiculous. He’s just said we don’t have the rights to it. I’m like, ‘Well, let’s talk to [Robert] Kirkman, see what he says to that.’ I mean, we’re really largely just joking around. But stranger things have been done, and I do love the theatre… It’s about, how do you confine it to something? Because it’s just so much story. So it would really be, how do you confine it to a good two-or-three-hour play?” said Gurira during the interview.

Fans of The Walking Dead were thrilled with The Ones Who Live, as they longed to see Michonne and Rick on their screens once again. The series premiered on AMC in February 2024, showcasing the epic love story between Michonne and Rick.

Another highlight of the series was the couple’s reunion with their two children, Judith (Cailey Fleming) and RJ (Antony Azor). The children were left in the care of their family in Alexandria and later moved to the Commonwealth. Rick, unaware that he had another son, found this reunion to be a touching moment, much to the delight of fans who believed Michonne and Rick’s story wouldn’t be complete without it.

The Ones Who Live focused significantly on the CRM (Civic Republic Military), an organization teased in several TWDU series. This is the same group that Jadis (Pollyanna McIntosh) traded Rick to after rescuing him following the bridge explosion in season 9 of the main series. McIntosh reprised her role in this series as a high-ranking member of the CRM. Seth Gilliam also made a surprise cameo as Father Gabriel in flashback scenes with Jadis.

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live was created as a limited series and has concluded its story. However, the universe continues with The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol, the second season of this series, which premieres on AMC and AMC+ on September 29. The Walking Dead: Dead City has also been renewed for a second season expected to be released in 2025.

Source: SFX Magazine