"The Walking Dead" showrunner Scott Gimple was at the Saturn Movie Awards and dished to Collider about an "end-game" for the series and the highly-anticipated "Walking Dead" spinoff. Last September AMC revealed plans for a currently-untitled zombie spinoff show but has been extremely vague about details.
What we do know so far: the spinoff will feature a new set of characters in a new location and they will be battling the undead, like in the original show. David Erickson has signed on to oversee the project, co-write and executive produce. Robert Kirkman and Gale Ann Hurd are also attached.
The spinoff has already been given a release date for some time next year but it's not clear when filming is set to begin and so far, no cast members have been announced. Gimple admitted to Collider that he doesn't know much about the spinoff but would "never say never" about the new show crossing over with the original.
"I have little to do with the spinoff... This I do know. It's set in the word of 'The Walking Dead' but from what I understand, it's not like Daryl's cousin or anything... I would never say never [to a crossover between the shows] because if I was a viewer I would say that's sounds awesome. But we're doing our own show. I also think a crossover might be tough because it would take a lot of [license] within the comic story. We'll see. When we get to all-out war, who knows?"
The showrunner also revealed that he has an end-game in mind for the TV series and said that it could be a little emotional for the characters. We're not sure what Gimple means by "emotional for the characters" but it does have us a little scared.
Will our favorite characters all be killed off by the show's end? We hope not but there has been some pretty unsettling death rumors flying around lately.
"I would say 'Yes' [there is an end-game]. I actually don't like spoiling myself on the comic. I read it as I go. Robert's offered to tell me the whole thing so I get general aspects of it," Gimple said. "I know the emotional end game of the show but there's practical aspects I want to keep with the comic. With these characters, you definitely have to think of that emotional endgame and that is very much a part of where I'm headed. But I want to have the flexibility to change the practicals with the comic and I don't want Robert to spoil the whole series for me."
Now on to the most important question: What the heck is happening with Season 5? Of course Gimple didn't reveal too much, but did tell Collider that he's going to try and remain true to comics in the next season and beyond.
"I certainly won't abandon iconic things from the comics. I definitely want to stick to the comic as much as possible but that's also impossible with Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) and characters that are alive but dead in the comic," Gimple said. "There's a butterfly effect. But that's actually an incredibly fun part of the [show]. I would say that even the inventions we have on the show are inspired by the comics."
