The Walking Dead Deserves an Actual Prequel, And It Might Just Happen Yet

As fans of Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead know, both the comics and the TV show drop viewers into the apocalypse mid-story rather than at its inception, thanks to Rick Grimes waking up late to the chaos. As a result, the true beginnings of the outbreak were never fully explored—at least not in comic form. However, according to Kirkman, that doesn’t mean the possibility is entirely off the table.

Screen Rant recently uncovered an interview between IGN and Robert Kirkman from 2007, where they discussed the past, present, and future of The Walking Dead. While many of the topics discussed in the interview have since come to pass, one detail stands out—a Walking Dead prequel that has yet to materialize.

This has left fans wondering if it’s still something to look forward to. Despite nearly a decade passing since this teaser, now could be the perfect time for such a project to come to life, especially with fans craving their next Walking Dead fix—much like the zombies they love to read about.

Sure, There’s The Walking Dead: Origins TV Show, But Fans Want a TRUE Prequel

Main Cover by David Finch & Dave McCaig for Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead Deluxe #32 (2022)

In his interview with IGN, Kirkman mentioned how the future of The Walking Dead was flexible and up in the air, hinting at the possibility of a Walking Dead: Origins miniseries. In some ways, this comment came to fruition with the 2021 TV series The Walking Dead: Origins, which revisited the stories of major characters like Daryl Dixon, Negan, Carol Peletier, and Maggie Rhee, exploring key moments and events that shaped their journeys. However, despite the existence of a Walking Dead: Origins show, this isn’t quite the prequel Kirkman was referring to in his interview.

In that interview, Kirkman seemed to be alluding to a Walking Dead comic miniseries, which would have served as a prequel to the main comic series. Rather than revisiting past events, as the Origins TV show did, the comic miniseries would have introduced new material, focusing on the characters before the events of the main series. While this comic miniseries hasn’t materialized yet, the recent revival of The Walking Dead—with deluxe remasters and releases of the original comics—makes the timing for such a prequel ideal.

Hope for a Walking Dead Prequel Remains (& the Deluxe TWD Comics Prove It)

Main Cover by David Finch & Dave McCaig for Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead Deluxe #67 (2023)

In his 2007 interview with IGN, Kirkman expressed that one of the biggest factors in his decision to continue working on The Walking Dead universe would depend on whether he was still enjoying the process. Given that the deluxe versions of The Walking Dead feature new commentary from the writer, it’s clear he is still very much engaged with the work and continues to reflect on it. This suggests that the door remains open for a potential The Walking Dead prequel comic series, though there’s no indication that such a project is currently in the works—especially with Kirkman focusing on other major projects, like expanding the Invincible universe.

Robert Kirkman: Who knows – in five years from now when the books’ sales are tanking, I’ll do a Walking Dead: Origins miniseries. [laughs] Who knows what the future holds…. I like the idea of doing the book twenty years from now and selling a fraction of what I’m selling now, and everyone being like, “Man, I wish he would’ve stopped. He’s fat Elvis now. We want to remember the way he was!” But at the same time, I hope I have the wherewithal to say, “Hey, maybe I’ve lost something on this book. This book is not as good as it has been. I’m still enjoying it, and I still think it’s awesome, but it’s just not connecting with readers anymore and it’s time to move on.”