Following the news that Andrew Lincoln is leaving the flagship TV series segment of The Walking Dead in favour of making a trilogy of Rick Grimes movies, we’re starting to hear about what comes next for the rest of the walker-hunting gang.

The Hollywood Reporter tells us that Norman Reedus (who plays Daryl Dixon) and Melissa McBride (who plays Carol Peletier) have both signed “rich new deals” with AMC that will keep them in The Walking Dead family for three years.

THR’s sources state that these new deals “cover three years of the franchise as a whole, meaning if their characters are written off of the flagship and relocated to another property in the Walking Dead franchise — or depart completely — they would continue to get paid.”

Danai Gurira, who recently joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Okoye in the Black Panther and Avengers franchises, is said to be “in negotiations with AMC for a similar pact” that will secure the future of her character Michonne in The Walking Dead.

“We love Danai; we love that character”, said AMC’s David Madden. “Right now, she’s got a lot of opportunities and she needs to weigh what she feels is best for her. But we certainly would want her on the show as long as she wants to be on it”.

As for the current run of the TV show, Rick isn’t the only character we’ve seen the last of this season. Lauren Cohan’s Maggie has also bowed out for the time being.

Angela Kang told THR that Maggie’s run-in with Negan in last week’s episode is “the last of her for this season,” as Cohan heads over to ABC to make a new series entitled Whiskey Cavalier. 

Madden added: “I would hope it’s not the last you’ll see of her for the show, but she is not in any immediately forthcoming episodes [of The Walking Dead].”

As we hear more, we’ll let you know.