This is a bittersweet week for The Walking Dead star Norman Reedus. The Daryl Dixon actor and actress Diane Kruger just welcomed their first child together. Obviously that's joyous news for both the couple and The Walking Dead family, and it came at the perfect time -- a new life entering the world just before we lose Rick Grimes.
People confirmed the birth of Norman Reedus' baby with Inglorious Basterds star Diane Kruger. The sex, name, and exact birth date weren't revealed, although fans think an Instagram post from Reedus hinted to a baby girl. He already has a 19-year-old son, Mingus Lucien, from his relationship with Helena Christensen. Here's hoping Reedus names his new little one Little Ass-Kicker, in honor of Judith Grimes' true name.
Rick Grimes is a fictional character, but he's played by Norman Reedus' real-life BFF, Andrew Lincoln. AMC decided to spoil Lincoln's departure way in advance, using the opportunity to tease Lincoln's final episodes as Rick Grimes. As the sun now stands, we don't know how that departure will be resolved, or if Lincoln's Papa Grimes might make a return in some fashion down the line before the series ends. But we know Sunday, Nov. 4 is meant to mark Lincoln's goodbye.
Norman Reedus and Andrew Lincoln both started on The Walking Dead in Season 1, and had a pact to leave the show together. That ain't happenin' anymore. Instead, there's talk that Reedus may take over the lead role after Lincoln leaves, and even pick up his major salary.
That extra money should come in handy now that there's another little mouth to feed. It's been a while since Norman Reedus raised a baby, but this video should remind you how good his Daryl Dixon was at soothing newborn Judith Grimes:
Speaking of zombie apocalypse babies, The Walking Dead Season 9's time jump has given us an older Judith, plus Maggie Greene-Rhee's new baby Hershel. Andrew Lincoln is a huge loss for the AMC series and we also know Maggie actress Lauren Cohan is stepping away from TWD for her new ABC show, Whiskey Cavalier. She has left the door open for a return, and it sounds like Lincoln will also return to the Georgia set next year, although to direct and not play Rick Grimes. But losing Rick and Maggie... however it happens, and even if they come back, is a serious shake-up for a series that already feels so different from the first few seasons.
The Walking Dead taped Andrew Lincoln's final episode as Rick Grimes several months ago, but it will be raw for viewers this week, with the effects presumably lasting a long time. We'll have to see what the loss of Rick Grimes does for the show's storyline and also its already lower ratings.
TWD Season 9 continues Sundays at 9 p.m. on AMC. Keep up with everything worth watching in our fall TV roundup.
