'The Walking Dead' Season 7 Premiere Date, Spoilers and Updates: AMC Show to End Differently Than Comics, Kirkman Says
Looks like fans would have to chunk everything they think they know about "The Walking Dead" Season 7 and beyond. Unlike "Game of Thrones," which will more or less adapt the approved George R. R. Martin ending, "The Walking Dead" creator Robert Kirkman had refused to reveal the ending of his comics before the television series ends. He said he wanted the show and the comics to go a different route, which could mean two different canon for one source material.
According to Kirkman, he wants his comics to outlive "The Walking Dead" show. He maintained that the comics were the comics before they were adapted for television, and knows exactly how he thinks his comics should end. However, he doesn't want it to come up on the show before he puts it in comics.
He also joked that he would be playing dumb should "The Walking Dead" showrunner Scott Gimple ever asked him about the ending. If it ever came to that, however, he'd help the show craft its own ending, to allow his comics to breathe life to its own narrative.
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Straying from canon
But before "The Walking Dead" fans start crying "foul" and "selfish," the show has actually strayed from the comics canon long before this announcement. For example, Michonne was a one-woman-show in the comics and was supposed to be closer to Tyreese and later on King Ezekiel, but ended up being Rick's (Andrew Lincoln) love interest in the show. In the comics, when the group had arrived in Woodsbury, the Governor hacked Rick's right hand, but so far Rick has still got his paws intact.
This also means hope for the beloved Glenn Rhee (Steven Yeuhn), who's slated to get killed off as Negan's victim in "The Walking Dead" Season 7 premiere. The landmark 100th issue saw him bludgeoned to death by Negan's trusty bat, Lucille. But even if Glenn escapes, someone will have to take his place - and based on online polls and fan theories, the close second is Abraham (Michael Cudlitz).
How Negan will affect them
As for what awaits fans in "The Walking Dead" Season 7, Kirkman affirmed much of what's already known by fans: Negan's introduction into the group will sow a new level of fear in them, one that hadn't been present for the past six seasons when they were just dealing with walkers. Kirkman further hinted that this fear will cause a lot of divisiveness, particularly against Rick.
"The Walking Dead" Season 7 will premiere October 23 on AMC.
