Michael Cudlitz addresses the potential of returning to The Walking Dead universe and details an unmade Abraham origin story project. Cudlitz played the character of Abraham Ford, a former U.S. Army Sergeant, who was introduced in The Walking Dead season 4 along with Eugene Porter (Josh McDermitt) and Rosita Espinosa (Christian Serratos). In season 7, Abraham eventually meets his demise at the end of Negan's barbed baseball bat Lucille, remaining fearless and defiant even in the face of death.
During an exclusive interview with Screen Rant for Superman & Lois season 4, Michael Cudlitz addressed the potential of him returning to The Walking Dead universe and detailed an unmade Abraham origin story project. The actor says he would "100%" want to return to the world of The Walking Dead and revealed there was once a plan for an episode of The Tales of the Walking Dead that was "sort of an Abraham origin story." Read his full comments below:
Yeah, 100%. We've talked about this before - I love that world. I had a great time in it. I don't think I've had as much fun on a set prior or since. It was a wonderful world to be part of and there was talk, at one point, about something with The Walking Dead universe. The Tales of The Walking Dead , I think they called it. They did six episodes of that where it was almost like a Black Mirror -type, alternate universe thing. I think one of the scripts they had - and still have, - is sort of an Abraham origin story, and they've talked about that prior. If they came to me with that, and the timing of everything worked out, absolutely. I love those guys, I had a wonderful time doing it.
It Likely Wouldn't Be A Limited Series
After Abraham was killed off in season 7, Michael Cudlitz returned to The Walking Dead multiple times as director of four episodes from seasons 9 to 11. After the original series ended in 2022, the franchise has continued with multiple spinoffs focusing on beloved characters, including Daryl Dixon, Maggie and Negan in Dead City, and Rick and Michonne in The Ones Who Live. However, each of these spinoff series has been a continuation, and not a prequel, focusing on main characters after the events of the original series.
Since Abraham was killed off, it's unlikely he would lead his own limited series. However, as Cudlitz mentions, what would be much more likely is an episode of The Tales of The Walking Dead for Abraham. Premiered in 2022, the spin-off is an episodic anthology series following new and existing characters within The Walking Dead universe, including Alpha and her daughter Lydia. After the first six episodes, the spinoff is set to be followed by a separate series titled More Tales from the Walking Dead Universe.
Our Take On Abraham Returning To The Walking Dead Universe
What Would Be The Best Way?
Abraham remains one of the most beloved characters from The Walking Dead, which makes him a likely candidate to return to the universe. However, since the character was killed off, leading a limited series remains unlikely, since those seem to be reserved for continuations of the original series, and not prequels. In turn, an episode of More Tales from the Walking Dead Universe seems to be the best way to tell an Abraham origin story. Even though much of Abraham's backstory is already known, there is still much more to tell about the character.
