However, speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Lincoln revealed that, with a strong enough story, he would be open to coming back for The Ones Who Live season 2. The actor explained how unique his return for the spinoff was, expressing interest in continuing Rick’s story if he was brought a strong script by showrunner Scott Gimple or co-star Danai Gurira. Check out what Lincoln had to say below:

Never say never. There are other very important characters in the universe that are still wandering around and alive that I think it might be quite exciting to have them breathe the same air and see how long they survive together. But it’s a difficult one. It would have to be like this, a really exciting story.

I think what we’ve achieved in this series was hopefully a few surprises and character turns and sequences that we haven’t seen in 13 years before. That was the exciting proposition — to chop my hand off, get back together with the love of my life and be reunited, and hopefully smash a few windows along the way and meet some great characters.

That was thrilling that we did episodes and sequences that I’m intensely proud of and we haven’t seen before. If that were to come out of Gimple’s or Danai’s brain, and it was irresistible, then I think that there’s infinite chance that it might happen again. But I don’t know when.

Should The Ones Who Live Season 2 Happen?Custom Image by Simone Ashmoore

The Ones Who Live season 1 ended with Rick and Michonne reunited, having finally become a family again alongside their two children. They’ve also protected Alexandria and the other Virginia communities by destroying the elite squadron of CRM soldiers, becoming heroes for the people of the Civic Republic in the process. With everything wrapped up so neatly, it’s difficult to see how the duo’s adventures could continue in another season of the spinoff.

One focal point for season 2 could be the duo adjusting to life back home after everything they’ve been through, especially after discovering some of their original group members are now at the Commonwealth. Neither know the large community exists, meaning it will be something they’ll have to get adjusted to once they reunite with everyone else. Characters like Maggie, Negan, Daryl, and Carol are unlikely to be around, meaning they’ll have to get caught up on what happened to them and decide what to do next.

However, given how definitive an ending The Ones Who Live season 1 has, it might feel pointless to have a season 2 continue their story when it’s been wrapped up so well. However, Rick and Michonne could return in Dead City or Daryl Dixon for cameos, tying the spinoffs together with brief appearances. Now that their story is at an end, though, having them come back for a full season would require a tale that wouldn’t jeopardize the ending season 1 gave them.