Several Walking Dead characters never had true endings, but could finally get closure through the franchise’s three upcoming spinoffs. So far, three new shows are confirmed to follow The Walking Dead series finale, allowing the franchise to continue the stories of Rick, Michonne, Daryl, Negan, and Maggie. Other familiar faces could wind up being on hand as well.
Through its eleventh and final season, the AMC series finally provided endings for the majority of its surviving characters. Fear the Walking Dead, which has one season left before it too will come to an end, is expected to do the same for Morgan’s group. But in the cases of both shows, there were characters who either left the cast or disappeared early, creating loose ends that couldn’t be tied up. But thanks to The Walking Dead’s three upcoming spinoffs, the franchise has opportunities to bring back a number of these characters, explain what they’ve been up to since they were last seen, and properly resolve their respective stories.
Heath
Played by Corey Hawkins, Heath mysteriously vanished in a season 8 episode of The Walking Dead. His abrupt departure from the series occurred as a result of the actor’s commitment to 24: A New Legacy, which only lasted for one season. After Hawkins’ show ended, there was hope that Heath would return, but those wishes never came to fruition. But based on what’s known about what happened to him, Heath’s continued absence makes sense. As Walking Dead showrunner Angela Kang previously confirmed, Heath was taken by the CRM. Heath being in the hands of the CRM naturally makes Rick and Michonne’s spinoff the most logical place for his next appearance in the franchise.
Virgil
The Walking Dead season 11 brought back a surprising character when it featured Virgil, whose guest appearance paved the way for Michonne’s exit in season 10. Interestingly, though, Virgil’s return never had a clear point to it. He saved Connie, but didn’t appear after The Walking Dead season 11 part 1. He seemed to fade into the background after bringing Connie back home. It can be assumed that Virgil joined the Alexandria community, but his exact fate remains uncertain. The franchise can finally justify his return by using him in one of the spinoffs. The Walking Dead: Dead City, for instance, could use Virgil by having him tag along with Maggie and Negan when they begin their trip to New York.
Walker
Qaletaqa Walker made for an exciting addition to Fear the Walking Dead’s cast in season 3, yet the series parted ways with him by the end of the season. The villain-turned-ally was a favorite of season 3 and a character with a great deal of storytelling potential. It may be too late for him to return to Fear the Walking Dead, but the spinoffs could still make use of him, even if his return happens without Madison or any of his past acquaintances. Years of traveling the countryside with Crazy Dog could result in Walker crossing paths with someone like Michonne, who has a new group ahead of her spinoff with Rick.
Jadis
Rick wasn’t the only character to disappear from Alexandria during season 9. There was also Jadis, the leader of the Scavengers and the person responsible for his abduction. The Walking Dead: World Beyond continued her story by featuring her as a CRM operative. But while her arc in World Beyond served as an additional chapter in her story, it was far from an ending. There’s still more to do with Jadis, especially since she’s aligned with the main villains of the franchise. Given her history with Rick, it’s possible she’ll be back in his spinoff, potentially as a secondary antagonist.
Georgie
One of The Walking Dead’s biggest unresolved plotlines relates to Georgie, a mysterious figure introduced in season 8. Bringing books and information about building a new society with her, Georgie assisted in the development of the communities but never made a second appearance on the show. Her introduction had important implications for the show’s future, but she was ultimately just a plot device used to strengthen the settlements and provide an explanation for Maggie’s exit. If the franchise finds room for her in one of the spinoffs, it can finally pay off this storyline. As for what her purpose could be, it may be that Maggie will seek her help in getting to New York.
Proctor John
Appearing in just a few episodes, Proctor John was the main antagonist of the second half of Fear the Walking Dead season 3. A menacing and conniving villain, Proctor John came across as a compelling adversary, but his time on the series was cut short by the dam explosion. FTWD never explained if he survived, but since both Nick and Daniel lived to see another day, there’s a good chance that he too made it out. At this point, there’s no expectation for Proctor John to return to FTWD, which is why an additional appearance would amount to a surprising cameo. It’s not outside the realm of possibility that he’ll show up as a member of a new villain group encountered in a future Walking Dead show.
Alicia
In spite of being the only Clark family member to appear in the first seven seasons of Fear the Walking Dead, Alicia is poised to miss the show’s last season. After wrongly believing that she was dying of a zombie infection, Alicia awoke fully cured and ran off alone, leaving her fate a mystery. Since her exit seemingly robbed the series of an opportunity for a Madison-Alicia reunion, the franchise may consider bringing both of them back for one of the spinoffs. That does seem plausible, especially since Morgan has a strong connection to Rick Grimes that’s worth revisiting in the spinoffs. If Morgan gets a future after Fear the Walking Dead, Madison – and in turn, Alicia – could be included in that plan.
Silas
The Walking Dead’s spinoffs could theoretically find homes for any of World Beyond’s surviving main characters, but most ended their journeys with some degree of finality. Silas, though, stands out as a character whose plotline feels largely incomplete. World Beyond concluded with Silas training under Jadis at the CRM with the intention of acting as a spy for his friends. Jadis, fully aware of this, made it abundantly clear she intends to shape him into a loyal CRM soldier. Which one of them will get what they want was left open to interpretation by World Beyond’s ending. However, this question could get a definitive answer if Rick runs into Silas in a CRM compound.
