The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live has landed in the UK

May 31, 2024

Courtesy: AMC Networks

The highly anticipated return of Rick and Michonne Grimes, starring Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira, in "The Ones Who Live" debuted on AMC and AMC+ on February 25 earlier this year to viewer frenzy. The six-episode series gave AMC+ its best ratings in the network's history, making it the most-watched show ever, even beating its predecessor, "The Walking Dead," which ran on AMC for eleven seasons.

According to Neilsen, the series delivered 3 million viewers after three days of viewing with its premiere episode. AMC reported that the show's viewership on streaming had already outpaced the first week of viewership for any season premiere on the platform, proving the combined star power of Lincoln and Gurira.

Now, viewers in the United Kingdom have the privilege of witnessing the phenomenon that has taken over The Walking Dead Universe courtesy of the U.K.'s Sky acquisition. Sky is a telecommunications company that provides television and internet services in the United Kingdom. This deal has granted the Sky network the exclusive rights to stream "The Walking Dead" and all of its spinoff series, including "Dead City", ''Daryl Dixon", 'Fear The Walking Dead", "The World Beyond" and "Tales of the Walking Dead".

Mike Pears, executive vice president of distribution and content sales for AMC Networks declared, “We are delighted to have found a new home for The Walking Dead Universe in the U.K.  As we enter an exciting new chapter in the evolution of this franchise, with three new eagerly awaited, character-driven series, Sky is the perfect, premium home for U.K. viewers to embrace all things Walking Dead. The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live is the most successful series in the history of AMC+, even including the original series, so it is fitting that it will lead the way as Sky brings this entire universe to U.K. fans in the coming weeks and months on Sky and NOW.”

Ahead of the U.K. premiere, Lincoln and Gurira took part in individual press promotions, offering personal insights into the series. Gurira shared her initial attraction to the character-driven narrative of the storylines despite not being a fan of horror. She also touched on the character of Michonne and the proposal to conclude Rick and Michonne's story. Gurira also discussed her ambition to write and show run the highly acclaimed episode 4 while elaborating on the chemistry she shares with Lincoln.

Lincoln also expressed his excitement about finally having the British audience see the series since fans have waited years to see what happened to Rick (after he was whisked away by helicopter in season 9, taken from his family, and presumed dead). The actor wanted to do something different with the character, which the audience hadn't seen before. He elaborated on the dynamics of the love story between the characters and the light-hearted prank between Lincoln and Gurira that Gurira had shared online a few months ago, much to fan delight.

"The Ones Who Live" will start streaming on May 31 on NOW and Sky and the other series will follow suit at later dates. Like their U.S. counterparts, U.K. fans will surely be thrilled to witness the epic love story between Rick and Michonne.