Gene Page/AMC. The simplest explanation is that Lincoln is leaving with Rick dying, as that’s what happens in 100% of non-Heath cases on The Walking Dead when an actor departs. Riggs' father has waded in commenting on the plot twist in a Facebook post which has since been deleted. Why is he leaving the starring role in cable’s most popular show? Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines. "Watching Gimple fire my son 2 weeks before his 18th birthday after telling him they wanted him for the next 3 years was disappointing," wrote Riggs in a deleted Facebook message. Even after this stated explanation, fans are still more or less saying the same thing, that the real reason is one or all of the aforementioned issues. While it would make sense that Lincoln may have his own secret reasons and doesn’t want to burn bridges on the way out, I think a more interesting scenario of what it could mean if truly, the only reason he’s leaving is to spend more time with his family. Read more: The old 'The Walking Dead' showrunner explains why the show has made so many changes from the beloved comic, "It was the middle of June, his 18th birthday was coming up in a couple of weeks, 5 episodes were filmed, and they asked for my wife and I to both be at a meeting with Chandler- which was a little odd," the post continued. And it’s one that we might have guessed at: “I have two young children, and I live in a different country, and they become less portable as they get older,” Lincoln says. Then it was finally revealed at a “goodbye” rollout at Comic Con, where Lincoln and the cast could finally admit it publicly. William Riggs took to Facebook Sunday night after the episode aired to register his dissatisfaction. The timing of William Riggs' message comes right before the return of "The Walking Dead" on AMC and two weeks before his son is set to appear on ABC's "A Million Little Things," something William Riggs pointed out in another comment on Facebook. Carl's death was one of the most shocking departures "The Walking Dead" made from the comics, notably because Carl is still alive and thriving in Robert Kirkman's series. Scott Gimple was the only one there and he told us that Carl would be gone in a few episodes. He found out in June while they were rehearsing for episode six. What if he has no real issue with AMC and the current state of The Walking Dead? Carl revealed his walker bite to his father, Rick, and Michonne on the season eight mid-season finale in December 2017. Gene Page/AMC At the heart of the show, "The Walking Dead" has explored the idea of morality and who the characters are becoming in the face of the zombie apocalypse. By Liam Mathews @liamaathews Jul 13, 2017 8:11 PM EDT. A more elaborate theory has Rick being kidnapped and taken far, far away to say….England. "Watching Gimple fire my son 2 weeks before his 18th birthday after telling him they wanted him for the next 3 years was disappointing," wrote Riggs, . Nicotero said this is something then-showrunner Scott Gimple could have had in mind for a while. The latest midseason finale ended with the shock reveal that Carl Grimes - who has been played by Chandler Riggs since 2010 - had been bitten by a walker with Riggs himself confirming that his character will die in the very next episode. But we do absolutely know how lucky we have been to be a part of it all and appreciate all the love from fans all these years!”. I know how much it hurt him. Andrew Lincoln’s pending departure from The Walking Dead has been an exceptionally strange story all year. Looking for smart ways to get more from life? FACT CHECK: Is “Text RBG to 50409” a Scam? I had gone to school and done the show and dedicated so much time and effort into the show that it was crazy that that was going to be the decision.”, Chandler Riggs was 11 when he started acting on. The actor also told reporters that he recently bought a house in Senoia, GA., close to the sets of the show. He signed the deal, graduated from high school and went back to work. Andrew Lincoln’s pending departure from The Walking Dead has been an exceptionally strange story all year. That’s what Carl’s talk to Rick was in this episode: there’s no way that they can kill every one of the Saviours and not everyone is a bad person and there has to be some way forward than just killing people,” Riggs added. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. First, it was a rumor from a number of Hollywood outlets, so often repeated it … A representative for AMC didn't immediately respond to INSIDER's request for comment. “I do plan to keep doing tours monthly. “Watching Gimple fire my son 2 weeks before his 18th birthday after telling him they wanted him for the next 3 years was disappointing,” wrote William Riggs. He bought a house near the set and enrolled at UGA so that he could be close to work since we had been commuting nearly 2 hours each way all these years. Fans are still dealing with the shock, wondering why was Carl killed off? Scott Gimple personally called him and said on a conference call in April that they needed him for 3 years. I know how much it hurt him. It was time for me to come home.”. One scenario has him being kidnapped by a group and then showing up in the far-flung future once the rest of the cast finds him, and he could return to the show either for the series finale, or just flat-out return for good a few years from now, if the show still isn’t ending by then. The old 'The Walking Dead' showrunner explains why the show has made so many changes from the beloved comic, promoted to chief content officer of the larger "Walking Dead" universe, 'The Walking Dead' director explains Sunday's big death: 'I know people are going to be upset', there were never conversations to kill off anyone else on the show but Carl, follow along with our "Walking Dead" coverage here, There's a small moment on Sunday's 'The Walking Dead' you probably missed that calls back to the show's most brutal moment, 'The Walking Dead' showrunner says Tom Payne volunteered to play his character's corpse on the mid-season premiere, 'The Walking Dead's' Danai Gurira is leaving the show after next season, 'The Walking Dead' showrunner addresses whether we'll see Maggie again: 'We left the door open for her to come back into the show or the universe', 'The Walking Dead' mid-season premiere is a slow, satisfying burn with a few stumbles. The Walking Dead season 8: Carl actor Chandler Riggs' father claims show fired his son: 'I never trusted them' 'Watching him get fired two weeks before his 18th birthday was disappointing' Impact 50: Investors Seeking Profit — And Pushing For Change. Viewed 25k times 2. All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. I never made it difficult for my son, our family had to work together to make it possible for him. Here is, straight from Andrew Lincoln’s mouth (via EW), the reason. The father of one of the longest-serving cast members of US series The Walking Dead has slammed its showrunner Scott Gimple for the way he “fired” his 18-year-old son. Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. Warning: Spoilers for The Walking Dead’s season 8 mid-season finale, “How It’s Gotta Be,” necessarily follow in this story. FACT CHECK: Is Kohl’s selling BLM Merchandise? I was disappointed Scott had been dishonest with a 17 year old making life decisions and waited to tell us. Here are the behind-the-scenes reasons why Chandler Riggs is leaving. But one in particular is hard to miss—the father of Chandler Riggs doesn’t seem at all pleased with the way his son has seemingly departed the AMC show. This is a reach, but if all of that is true, that leaves the door open to some potentially interesting options. As a result, William Riggs said Chandler bought a house to be closer to the "TWD" set in Atlanta. 1 year guaranteed and the next one at their option, which was also typical. Here's the moment when Carl was bit (off screen) on season eight, episode six of "TWD." It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions, and more. Want an ad-free experience?Subscribe to Independent Premium. He also said he would continue touring the country with his son, in the awkwardly named “Chandler Riggs’ Dad’s Zombie Roadtrip Riggs’ Tours & Autographs.”, “I hope the show keeps doing well!” he wrote. June while they were rehearsing for episode six. “Scott Gimple called to meet with me and my mom and my dad to talk about story stuff.