Yahoo News The Walking Dead's Carl breaks silence on Rick exit
Former Walking Dead star Chandler Riggs has expressed his surprise that Andrew Lincoln is quitting the show.
Riggs played Lincoln's on-screen son Carl Grimes for eight seasons before his character was controversially killed off. In the comics, Carl is still alive, and comics creator Robert Kirkman has talked in the past of wanting Carl to outlive his father Rick in the source material.
Although the TV show took the decision to kill off Carl, Rick will only be appearing in six more episodes, with AMC offering actor Norman Reedus a huge new contract to make his character Daryl the new lead – if reports are to be believed.
Related: The Walking Dead showrunner "argued" with Robert Kirkman over changes from the comic
Speaking on Good Day Sacramento, Riggs said that he was "shocked" by the news but added that he was happy for him.
"Andy has been on the show for so long and he's had to leave his family every single year," he said (via ComicBook.com).
"I was surprised, but at the same time, it's going to be good for him to get back to his family and raise his kids."
Reedus previously reacted to the reports of Lincoln's departure by posting an emotional Instagram picture of the pair embracing.
But fans have expressed their unhappiness over Rick's impending exit, with nearly half of respondents in a recent survey indicating that they won't be watching the show once Lincoln leaves.
The Walking Dead airs on AMC in the US, and on FOX and Now TV in the UK.
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