‘The Walking Dead’ as we know it is over. Now what?

‘The Walking Dead’ as we know it is over. Now what?

CLEVELAND, Ohio – When “The Walking Dead” begins the promotional push for its ninth season at San Diego Comic Con next month, the hit AMC series will face a challenge it hasn’t really had to face before: Making fans care.

[SPOILERS for “The Walking Dead” and “Fear the Walking Dead” ahead]

A lot has happened since a so-so Season 8 ended. After bidding farewell to the show’s second most important character in Carl, news broke that Lauren Cohan, who plays Maggie, may be leaving the series to pursue other opportunities (which has since been confirmed).

Then, the unthinkable happened. It was announced that Andrew Lincoln, the show’s lead actor, would depart after Season 9, bringing Rick Grimes’ time on the show to an end.

Forget Rick’s status as one of the most iconic comic book characters of all time. “The Walking Dead” losing Rick provides the same kind of seemingly insurmountable obstacle any other flagship cable series would face.

Imagine if Tony Soprano died in the middle of “The Sopranos’” run or if Walter White bit the dust during Season 4 of “Breaking Bad.”

If that weren’t bad enough, “The Walking Dead’s” spinoff, “Fear the Walking Dead” recently killed off its main character Madison (played by Kim Dickens). That makes Lennie James, aka Morgan Jones, “Fear’s” new lead, meaning he likely won’t be coming back to “The Walking Dead” any time soon.

Nothing is clicking for “The Walking Dead” heading into its ninth season. Negan’s status is up in the air (he’s alive but being held hostage). The Season 8 finale teased an eventual showdown between Rick and Maggie that doesn’t look like it can take place now.

Meanwhile, the departure of Carl means the show will no longer follow the comic book. All of this while ratings have dipped (Though, “TWD” still draws more than 10 million viewers per episode) and fans have clamored for the show to lay out its exit strategy.

For the first time in a long time, there is no set path for “The Walking Dead” after its next eight episodes this fall. Reports have producers offering Norman Reedus a huge contract to stay on and make Daryl Dixon’s the show’s new lead.

But is this even “The Walking Dead” anymore? Nine seasons is a long run for a modern cable series. Maybe too long.

“The Walking Dead” has always maintained that no character is safe. But this isn’t a series build around a greater concept like “Game of Thrones” or “The Wire.”

“TWD” is a character driven drama that must now replace several leads in its franchise. Good luck with that.