The Walking Dead Spinoff Sets Up the Return of an Old Villain

The Potential Return of a Memorable Villain

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live has fans buzzing with excitement as it brings back the beloved character Rick Grimes. However, the potential return of an iconic villain has sparked even more anticipation for the spinoff. While Rick featured in the first nine seasons of The Walking Dead before being written out in season 9, episode 5, his return in The Ones Who Live opens up the possibility for the comeback of an early Walking Dead villain. This has raised intriguing questions and speculations among fans, adding an extra layer of excitement to the upcoming spinoff.

Rick and Shane in police uniforms in The Walking Dead

Although many of Rick's former foes have been written out or killed off, there are still ways to bring them back. Throughout The Walking Dead, Rick experienced plenty of hallucinations and flashbacks, which allowed deceased characters to come back to the series. With the passage of time in the universe since Rick was last with the group, it wouldn't be surprising to see him begin hallucinating once more. The Ones Who Live has already teased a dark Rick Grimes return, with the plot seeming to stack the odds against the protagonist. This sets the stage perfectly for the potential return of an iconic villain, adding a thrilling element to the spinoff's narrative.

Jon Bernthal as Shane in The Walking Dead featuring a zombified Shane

Shane Could Be Key To Rick Grimes’ CRM Escape

With the focus of The Ones Who Live seemingly on Rick's time with the CRM, Shane could return and play a crucial role in helping Rick escape. Despite being killed off in season 2, Shane appeared again in The Walking Dead through Rick's hallucinations. The spinoff show could use this same tactic to bring back the former villain. Shane's Walking Dead death was a significant moment in the show, as it was one of Rick's earliest kills and changed the character. His outlook on the apocalypse was seen as too sadistic, yet some of his philosophies were adopted by Rick and the group later down the line. Having him appear in hallucinations could motivate Rick to break out of the facility.

The Potential Impact of Shane's Return

Despite being one of the show's first real villains, Shane wasn't completely irredeemable and was arguably ahead of the curve when it came to the new world. Having him appear in hallucinations could motivate Rick to break out of the facility. In his darkest moments, Rick was ruthless and one of the scariest characters in the show. Shane reminding Rick about having to fight to survive could bring back some of those repressed feelings. Rick's Walking Dead spinoff could also have Carl Grimes return, offering an angel and devil on the shoulder dynamic with Shane acting as the immoral yet necessary evil side to Rick's CRM conflict.

Will Jon Bernthal Reprise His Role As Shane Walsh In The Walking Dead Spinoff?

While Jon Bernthal reprising his role as Shane Walsh would be an exciting addition to The Ones Who Live, there is no confirmation of this. Unlike with Daryl Dixon, there haven't been many leaks regarding Rick's spinoff, which makes a potential return still possible. The actor does have a relatively busy schedule ahead, with Jon Bernthal playing The Punisher in the MCU's Daredevil show. He will also be part of Snow Ponies and a sequel to The Accountant. This may seem like bad news regarding a Walking Dead return, but filming for the spinoff is already complete, meaning a secret cameo could happen.

The Excitement and Speculation Surrounding Shane's Potential Return

Bernthal also wouldn't need to do much filming to play a big role in the Rick Grimes spinoff. He would only need a short filming schedule, or the show could even reuse previous lines if they opted to go in a flashback direction, rather than hallucinations. Considering Bernthal has reprised the role before, a Shane return can't be ruled out and would be a great addition to the spinoff. The Ones Who Live does leave the potential for the former villain to make an appearance and if he does, Shane could have a large impact on Rick's character and potential escape from the CRM.