Note: The following article contains spoilers.
The Walking Dead TV universe's head honcho has shot down one of the most widely-rumoured fan theories about the show.
Scott Gimple spoke at Comic-Con International this weekend about fans' theories regarding the mysterious helicopter group popping up in both the main show and spin-off Fear the Walking Dead.
The group are responsible for rescuing Rick Grimes with Jadis, with their member Isabelle (Sydney Lemmon) revealing their ruthless goal to build a better world by any means necessary when crossing paths with Althea in Fear.
Many fans have speculated that the group will eventually be revealed to be the Commonwealth, a faction with the same goals from Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman's comic series.
With fans even believing that the faction's leader Pamela Milton has already been introduced on screen, it seemed like a logical jump to link the helicopter group and the Commonwealth.
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But fans apparently shouldn't jump to conclusions! Gimple had a surprising answer when asked directly at Comic-Con if the helicopter group has anything to do with the Commonwealth.
"No, it does not," he told Digital Spy and other media. "It is not [the Commonwealth]. There, really emphatic!"
So, it looks like there might be two faux-utopian factions in the Walking Dead universe (or the show might be putting its own unique twist on the Commonwealth concept).
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While some might be disappointed to see the theory shot down, series creator Robert Kirkman has at least confirmed that there are no plans to end The Walking Dead like his recent surprise comic book finale.
There will also be more about the helicopter in both the TV series and the upcoming Rick Grimes spin-off movies — which have released their first teaser.
The Walking Dead airs on AMC in the US and on FOX in the UK. You can also catch up on the show via NOW TV.
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Justin is a freelance entertainment journalist and writer. He first joined Digital Spy as a freelance entertainment reporter in 2010 and also worked as a sub-editor for the brand, serving as Night News Editor from 2016 to 2024. Over more than a decade, Justin has covered numerous major entertainment events from the US and has interviewed a wide-ranging group of public figures, from comedian Steve Coogan to icons from the Star Trek universe, cast members from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and reality stars from numerous Real Housewives cities and the Below Deck franchise. Justin has also been on the ground to cover major pop culture events like the Star Wars Celebration and the D23 Expo. He's written for titles across the Hearst network, plus the likes of CBR and Us Weekly.
