It’s been nearly two years since the conclusion of The Walking Dead on AMC, but the franchise lives on through a string of spin-offs like Dead City, The Ones Who Live, and Daryl Dixon. These shows have brought back fan-favorite characters, much to the delight of longtime viewers. Yet one key figure from the original series, Abraham Ford, has yet to reappear. Played by Michael Cudlitz, the former U.S. Army Sergeant became a beloved part of the apocalypse when he joined the series in Season 4, before meeting his brutal end at the hands of Negan in Season 7. Despite Abraham’s untimely demise, Cudlitz isn’t ready to close the door on the character just yet.
Speaking to ScreenRant while discussing his current role as Lex Luthor in the final season of Superman & Lois, Cudlitz expressed enthusiasm about the idea of revisiting Abraham in the future, citing his love for the Walking Dead universe and the camaraderie he shared with the cast.
“Yeah, 100%. We’ve talked about this before – I love that world. I had a great time in it. I don’t think I’ve had as much fun on a set prior or since. It was a wonderful world to be part of and there was talk, at one point, about something with The Walking Dead universe. The Tales of The Walking Dead, I think they called it. They did six episodes of that where it was almost like a Black Mirror-type, alternate universe thing,” Cudlitz shared.
As he mentioned, Tales of the Walking Dead premiered in 2022 as a six-episode anthology series set within the Walking Dead universe. It explored unconventional storytelling with time loops and twist endings akin to Black Mirror. Although it was short-lived, the series received favorable reviews and left the door open for potential revisits to this experimental format.
How Can Abraham Return to The Walking Dead if He’s Been Killed?
In April 2023, AMC announced More Tales from the Walking Dead Universe, a continuation of the anthology format designed to tell fresh stories about new and existing characters. According to Cudlitz, there’s already a script in the mix that explores Abraham’s backstory.
“I think one of the scripts they had – and still have – is sort of an Abraham origin story, and they’ve talked about that prior. If they came to me with that, and the timing of everything worked out, absolutely. I love those guys, I had a wonderful time doing it,” Cudlitz revealed to ScreenRant.
This could pave the way for a deeper dive into Abraham’s origins before he crossed paths with Rick Grimes and company. While there hasn’t been any concrete movement on the project since the announcement, the recent resolution of Hollywood’s labor strikes might finally bring clarity to the future of The Walking Dead anthology series.
The Walking Dead’s Legacy
Based on Robert Kirkman’s groundbreaking comic series, AMC’s The Walking Dead became a cultural phenomenon over its 11-season run. Developed for television by Frank Darabont, the series followed Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and a group of survivors navigating life after a zombie apocalypse. The show’s enduring success has spawned numerous spin-offs, including Fear the Walking Dead and The Walking Dead: World Beyond, cementing its place as one of television’s most expansive franchises.
With Abraham’s potential return on the table, fans might soon have another reason to revisit the wasteland.
Tags: Michael Cudlitz, The Walking Dead, Abraham Ford, Walking Dead spin-offs, AMC series
