Andrew Lincoln has addressed his impending departure from The Walking Dead for the first time.

The show's executive producer Robert Kirkman finally confirmed on Thursday (July 19) that there is "something amazing planned" to mark Lincoln's departure, months after news first broke that he'd be quitting in season nine.

Lincoln got his own chance to speak about leaving the role of Rick Grimes when the cast of The Walking Dead gathered in Hall H at Comic-Con International on Friday (July 20).

Gene Page/AMC

"I don't want this to turn into either an Oscar acceptance speech or an obituary," he told Digital Spy and other media during a press conference beforehand. "This has been... there's nothing but gratitude that I feel for this whole experience, and love for this bunch of people. It's changed my life, in a myriad of different ways.

"[Showrunner Angela Kang] and the writing staff this season have been amazing. It's so good, and so energised. There are two episodes this season that are possibly two of my favourites since the pilot."

Kang chimed in: "Rick has a really cool story this season. Andy is always amazing, but he's doing such incredible work alongside this cast, so we're telling a story about where he's at after the incredible soul-crushing loss of his son Carl, his really surprising decision to save Negan at the end of the war and [exploring] what are the after-effects of that and how we build from that.

Gene Page AMC

"You really see Rick step up as a leader, you see him, just the incredible goodness that he has inside shining through as he's really trying to deal with people who are philosophically in a different place."

Later, on-stage in Hall H, a tearful Andrew explained: "I love this show. It means everything to me. I love the people who make this show. I promise not to cry – I've done enough crying on screen.

Gene Page/AMC

"I'm particularly fond of the people who watch this show, you people. This has been the most extraordinary, amazing and beautiful experience of my career… So I just want to thank you."

He stressed that his "relationship with Mr. Grimes is far from over", but urged fans to stick with The Walking Dead once he eventually does walk away.

"This has always been an ensemble, and it will continue to be an ensemble," he said. "No one is bigger than the story, and the story this year is unbelievable."

The Walking Dead director Michael Satrazemis recently expressed confidence that The Walking Dead "will still be great" even after it loses the leading man who has defined the show.

Gene Page/AMC

"All of us who love making The Walking Dead keep creating our asses off, and sometimes even bleed for you," he recently promised.

David Morrissey, who played Rick Grimes's nemesis The Governor, seems slightly more sceptical about whether The Walking Dead can thrive long-term without Lincoln.

"Of course the show can survive... [but] I think it's going to be tough because he's such a great character and a real leader," Morrissey recently told us.

"He's been there a long time and he's got a life and he's given everything to that show. The real fans and the people on it are totally understanding of that decision."

AMC

As part of Lincoln's departure, The Walking Dead will somehow bring back Jon Bernthal as Shane Walsh, even though the character was killed off several seasons ago.

The Walking Dead airs on AMC in the US, and on FOX and Now TV in the UK.

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