Andrew Lincoln left The Walking Dead in season 9 due to his desire to spend more time with his family in the UK. His departure allowed the show to focus on other characters and reinvent itself, ultimately leading to its success through season 11. In "What Comes After," Rick sacrifices himself to save his friends and family but is taken away by Jadis in a CRM helicopter before the bridge explosion. In the series finale, Rick is seen on a beach, and Michonne searches for him after finding evidence that he might still be alive. The upcoming six-episode miniseries, The Walking Dead: Rick & Michonne, will cover their respective journeys to find one another.