The Walking Dead's Andrew Lincoln has said that Rick is "willing to die" to take down Negan once and for all.
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Talking at New York Comic Con, Lincoln outlined the differences between season seven Rick, who was cowed by Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), and the Rick we meet in the upcoming season.
"I think he's ready for battle. I've always said that Rick is very much like a shark. He needs to keep moving, otherwise he dies. Giving him something to do with his grief and pain is essential. Kicking Negan's ass is as good a reason as any," he explained.
"I think he's very focused. You saw him in the beginning of the scene last season on his knees, but he's a completely inverted Rick. He's a man who's willing to die. He's free for all intents and purposes."
Lincoln also noted that season eight has left him feeling "nervous" because of the journey Rick goes on.
"This is the payoff for last season. Certainly in Rick's terms. The thing I love about the job after eight years and 100 episodes is that they keep pushing and pulling and hurting this man in new and unimaginable ways," he enthused.
"This season, more than any other, I've been really nervous about certain scenes. To be nervous going to work after eight years is a testament to the writers really."
While it probably won't happen in season eight, creator Robert Kirkman has confirmed recently that Rick will die at some point.
"No-one is safe. Hopefully there have been points where you go, 'Is this it? Is this where Rick dies?' And he doesn't. One day, the moment will come where you go, 'Oh my god, it is!' It could happen any time between now and 50 years from now," he said.
The Walking Dead launches its eighth season on October 22 on AMC in the US and October 23 on FOX in the UK.
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Movies Editor, Digital Spy Ian has more than 10 years of movies journalism experience as a writer and editor. Starting out as an intern at trade bible Screen International, he was promoted to report and analyse UK box-office results, as well as carving his own niche with horror movies, attending genre festivals around the world. After moving to Digital Spy, initially as a TV writer, he was nominated for New Digital Talent of the Year at the PPA Digital Awards. He became Movies Editor in 2019, in which role he has interviewed 100s of stars, including Chris Hemsworth, Florence Pugh, Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba and Olivia Colman, become a human encyclopedia for Marvel and appeared as an expert guest on BBC News and on-stage at MCM Comic-Con. Where he can, he continues to push his horror agenda – whether his editor likes it or not.
