Rick Grimes is the main character of the hit zombie-apocalypse tv-series "The Walking Dead." The role is played by actor Andrew Lincoln and has been captivating the fans with his evolution as a character in the story for five and a half seasons already. Unlike other characters, Rick is the only character in the TV series that won't be killed except if the producers decide to make a major non-sensical plot twist.
The original show runner Frank Darabont revealed that he had someone else in mind to play for Rick Grimes' character. Darabont has worked with Thomas Jane a few times and has been good friends with him. In a candid interview by the L.A. Times Hero Complex website, Darabont pointed at Thomas Jane and said, "I wanted this a**hole [Thomas Jane] to be the star of The Walking Dead."
Darabont was the director of the movie "The Mist" which starred Jane as one of the leading roles. Before the zombie apocalypse hit, Darabont endorsed Jane to be star on "The Walking Dead" but incidently, Jane was currenty on another HBO series, "Hung." Jane even asked for HBO's blessing but was rejected to work two roles simultaneously.
Fortunately, for AMC, the HBO reject has skyrocketed during its first season and has become a regular topic among tv-series junkies.
The TV series was rejected by HBO along with Jane's casting in it before AMC opened its doors to it. The Walking Dead did not earn its fan base and ratings from casting high caliber and A-list hollywood actors. The low key nature of its cast established rapport with its audience. Unreality TV says, "The fact that Lincoln was slightly more under the radar, this helped fans connect with him."
Fans find it hard to imagine "The Walking Dead" without Andrew Lincoln playing as Rick Grimes especially with the viral meme that the internet community has built around Lincoln's American accent.
