Yahoo News Walking Dead missing characters who might return in s9
Shortly after the shock announcement that Andrew Lincoln would be leaving The Walking Dead came the even more surprising news that his exit would lead to a surprise comeback from Jon Bernthal as the long-dead Shane Walsh.
We don't yet know exactly how Shane's return will tie into Rick's exit, but while Bernthal's return is likely to be a one-off, it led to us thinking which MIA characters who are still alive in The Walking Dead TV universe might make a permanent comeback – or even just resurface briefly for a pointless Morales-style stunt return.
Here's six of the most likely candidates for the upcoming season nine.
1. Morgan
It might seem weird to suggest that Morgan could go back to The Walking Dead only a season after his much-publicised crossover, but that was until the midseason premiere of Fear the Walking Dead season four.
The episode showed Morgan tell everyone of his intention to head back to Alexandria and that he wants everyone to join him as it's a "good place with good people". A storm has since hit and we don't know if he's any closer to returning, but while Morgan still has a "long, long journey to go" on the spin-off show, Fear co-showrunner Ian Goldberg isn't ruling out a return to the flagship.
With The Walking Dead season nine undergoing an 18-month time jump, it makes Morgan crossing back over to the parent show a bit more difficult. However, it could just be that we see Morgan towards the end of season nine and Fear season five will show how he came to be there.
Then again, Lennie James has been teasing that something will happen to Morgan in the remaining episodes of Fear's fourth season that "no-one will see coming", so maybe his time on both shows is coming to a more permanent end... *gulp*
2. Sherry
After she helped Daryl escape from Sanctuary, Dwight's ex-wife Sherry went on the run and that was the last we heard from her, although she did leave Dwight a note that hinted the two could get back together when the All-Out War was over.
In the season eight finale, Dwight was exiled by Daryl from Alexandria and left to reunite with Sherry, finding another note at their meeting spot. With the 18-month time jump, it's entirely possible that Dwight has found Sherry within this time and could have settled down into a new life with her.
While Christine Evangelista's availability was initially a problem for Sherry's return given her series regular role in The Arrangement, that show has now been cancelled.
What's more, if we go by the comics, Dwight takes over from Negan as the leader of the Saviours, before Sherry eventually assumes leadership of the group, so they could both have crucial roles to play in season nine.
3. Heath
Heath was last seen in season seven, in flashbacks that showed a scavenging mission with Tara that went wrong. The pair got separated, but when Tara returned to the spot she last saw him, their vehicle was gone and there was only a keycard that read "PPP" left behind.
This implied that Heath had successfully escaped becoming walker food and The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman had previously hinted that we could see Heath return at some point in the future.
It could now be even more likely with Corey Hawkins no longer being kept busy with 24: Legacy, and Scott Gimple – now Chief Content Officer of AMC's The Walking Dead franchise – revealed at Comic-Con that the writers are ready if Hawkins wants to return.
"We want to work with him again, and we want to tell more with that character," he outlined. "And, you know, the way that character left the show, there is a story there. There is a story for that character. It's just there's a lot of flexibility built in because he's making movies."
4. Duane
This is a bit of a left-field choice, but could Morgan's son Duane return to the show for the first time since season one (barring a brief cameo in a season seven flashback)?
In season three stand-out episode 'Clear', Morgan tells Rick that when he left Duane alone, he came back to find him pointing a gun at his undead mother Jenny. Duane couldn't shoot her and he was apparently bitten before Morgan could kill Jenny, yet it wasn't clear if he then killed his son or left him as a walker.
But we never actually saw this happen and Morgan wasn't exactly in the best state of mind, so could it be that Duane actually didn't die? It's unlikely, we know, although you can never rule it out if you don't see a body.
5. Grady Memorial Hospital survivors
Back in season five, we were introduced to the Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, a 'refuge' for survivors run by the Atlanta police who ended up 'rescuing' people, only to force them to work in the hospital as repayment.
It was the place that led to the death of Beth at the hands of its leader Dawn, who was then killed by Daryl. However, there were plenty of other survivors left there, such as Dr Steven Edwards, who chose not to leave with Rick and stay with the officers in charge instead, like Officers Tanaka and Shepherd.
There's a chance that the hospital could have fallen in the years since, yet that's unlikely given that it had survived since the outbreak. It was suggested that it would now be a peaceful community after the death of Dawn, but that doesn't mean members of the hospital can't come into contact with everyone else again.
6. Vatos gang
Cast your mind back to season one when Rick, Lori and co came upon a gang hiding out at a nursing home, protecting their own family and the home's elderly residents. This was the Vatos gang and after some early issues, Rick left behind guns and ammo for them.
That was the last we saw of them in the show, although a deleted scene from season two saw Rick's group discover that the gang and the home's residents were killed by human pillagers, with their bodies being feasted on by walkers.
However, since the scene was taken out of the show, that doesn't mean it's officially canon, so could be bypassed if the show wanted to bring back Guillermo, Felipe or someone else from the gang.
The Walking Dead airs on AMC in the US and on FOX and NOW TV in the UK.
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