Danai Gurira on Crafting Rick and Michonne’s Adorable Meet-Cute and Blending Romance with Action
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live blends the intense zombie horror fans have loved for 14 years with a new twist—romance. Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira, reprising their roles as Rick and Michonne, aimed to create a spin-off that feels as much like a love story as it does an apocalyptic adventure. They achieved this through an imagined meet-cute scene, offering a glimpse into a world where the outbreak never happened.
In the show’s early episodes, Rick dreams about meeting Michonne in a pre-apocalyptic world. The scene shows them striking up a conversation on a park bench, with a nervous Rick asking Michonne for directions on his first day at a new job.
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“It was really fun. I had a lot of say in things like what she wears,” Gurira shared with GamesRadar+, recalling the novelty of wearing bright, fresh-looking clothes. “I had braids at the time and didn’t want to take them out, so I thought, in his dream, she could have braids instead of dreadlocks. It added a cool, dream-like quality to the scene and set the tone for the love story we were creating.”
Gurira continued, “We discussed intensely how to take The Walking Dead, traditionally not a love story, and lean into making it one. When Scott [Gimple] introduced this aspect in the teleplay, I thought it was brilliant. Rick escapes into a dream world devoid of horror and loss, encompassing the hope and joy of falling in love.”
Combining romance and violent action might seem jarring, but Gurira believes it makes perfect sense. “Maybe it’s different for guys, who typically lean more towards action, but for me, it’s the same. Michonne’s power, passion, focus, and determination are all rooted in love. Initially, her drive came from loss and survival, but now it’s all about love. Her actions, teamwork, and unwillingness to lose are all connected to this love.”
She added, “Directors might struggle to connect romance and action, but for me, it’s natural. Her determination and the love for her children intertwine these elements beautifully. Romance and action can be deeply intertwined.”
Created by Gurira, Lincoln, and The Walking Dead’s chief content officer Scott Gimple, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live also stars Craig Tate, Lesley-Ann Brandt, Terry O’Quinn, and Pollyanna McIntosh.
The show premiered in the US in late February and is now streaming on Sky and NOW.
