Serious stuff and thangs have been happening this week for "The Walking Dead." If only the past couple of seasons were as gripping, maybe the AMC show wouldn't be leaking both viewers and cast members.

TWD Season 9 is now taping down in Georgia, and reports just came out that Andrew Lincoln (Rick Grimes) will be leaving this season. Those reports came after Lauren Cohan (Maggie Greene Rhee) was revealed to only be taping about six episodes before going back to her ABC show, which got picked up for midseason.

This is all after losing Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes last season. TWD could maybe go on without one Grimes, but both?

That is apparently the plan. The Hollywood Reporter claims Norman Reedus (Daryl Dixon) is now "in the midst of negotiating a rich new deal that will pay him more than $20 million as he will become the new No. 1 on the call sheet." (Or they could just cancel the show.)

Norman and Andy are BFF brothers in real life, as Daryl and Rick are BFF brothers on screen. (Or were, before that random Season 8 finale twist.) We don't know exactly what's happening behind-the-scenes, but few want Daryl to rise if it means Rick falling. Norman would never want to see Andy leave either.

No one in the cast has officially commented on the Lincoln/Reedus rumors, but here's Norman Reedus with some black-and-white visual commentary with a heart emoji:

❤️

A post shared by norman reedus (@bigbaldhead) on

Rick + Daryl forever. But losing Rick would be more than bittersweet. It would basically make TWD a different show, and we already have "Fear the Walking Dead" for that.

Lincoln previously volunteered Rick as tribute as a means toward the show's end game. Here's what he told the New York Daily News last October:

"There comes a point where there are too many gray hairs on your chin. I think the audience deserves an end game. It's a lot of time to invest in a story without some kind of resolution. If I was watching it I would want some answers, something, and if that means the demise of a central character or a principal character, then I'm willing to take the medicine."

There was always idle speculation about "The Walking Dead" going on without Rick, but that was assuming Carl Grimes would still be around to follow in Dad's footsteps. (At least Carl is still around in the comic book.)

Meanwhile, Norman Reedus reportedly had some good news happen amid the Andrew Lincoln reports. His girlfriend Diane Kruger is reportedly pregnant with their first child together. Reedus already has an 18-year-old son with ex Helena Christensen.

"The Walking Dead" Season 9 is expected to premiere this October on AMC.

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