In a recent Television Critics Association panel, Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira, who will be reprising their roles as Rick and Michonne in The Walking Dead spinoff series, revealed an interesting tidbit about their preparation for their characters' romance. It turns out that they binge-watched the popular Netflix series Bridgerton as part of their homework. Showrunner Scott M. Gimple shared this fun detail during The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live premiere in Los Angeles.
According to Gimple, it was Gurira who suggested watching Bridgerton to prepare for their on-screen love story. The showrunner mentioned that Gurira assigned them some Bridgerton-related homework. Lincoln and Gimple followed Gurira's instructions and dove into the world of Bridgerton, taking cues from the series to shape their characters' relationship in The Walking Dead spinoff.
For fans who are curious about the connection between Bridgerton and The Walking Dead, Gurira clarified that it's not about direct similarities but rather about the accomplishment of a successful love story. She recognized Bridgerton's clear and well-defined world, characters, pursuits, and storyline arcs. Gurira wanted Lincoln and Gimple to experience the satisfaction that Bridgerton's love stories offer, so she shared key scenes with them through recorded videos.
Gurira drew a parallel between her approach to watching Bridgerton and how she reads a play by August Wilson when she experiences writer's block. She explained that it's not about trying to imitate Wilson's work but rather about his narratives achieving what they set out to do. Gurira wanted to bring that same sense of accomplishment to The Walking Dead spinoff for Lincoln and Gimple, with its own unique world and a powerful, unapologetic voice.
Gimple described The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live as the most romantic story in The Walking Dead universe. The spinoff explores the idea of love as the driving force behind a survival story. The love between Rick and Michonne is portrayed as intense and deep, making them soulmates with unique quirks. For Gimple, placing the focus on their love story was an obvious choice for the new series.
To create this romantic narrative, Lincoln, Gurira, and Gimple found inspiration in classic films like Casablanca and Somewhere in Time. They discussed various elements of romantic stories, recognizing that in any love story, there is always an obstacle keeping the characters apart. However, in the world of The Walking Dead spinoff, the obstacle is massive—the undead and the unforgiving post-apocalyptic environment. Before finding each other, Rick and Michonne must first find themselves within this changed world.
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live is set to premiere on February 25th on AMC and AMC+. Fans can look forward to experiencing a heartfelt love story amidst the challenges of a zombie-filled world. With the influence of Bridgerton and other classic romances, the series aims to combine elements of romance and survival, creating a unique and compelling narrative for viewers to enjoy.
