'The Walking Dead': Reason Why Andrew Lincoln Wanted To Leave In Season 8

"The Walking Dead" star Andrew Lincoln left the show halfway through Season 9, but he originally wanted to depart the show in Season 8.

On Sunday, actress Pollyanna McIntosh, who played Jadis/Anne in the AMC zombie apocalypse drama, revealed on the "Talk Dead to Me" podcast that Lincoln’s decision to quit the show stemmed from his desire to spend more time with his children.

"Him and [his wife Gael] wanted to keep the kids in school in the U.K., and they've achieved that, but there's a certain amount of years after which it's like, for Andy, he said they're at the age where they need their dad around. This is the time," McIntosh told "Talk Dead to Me" podcast hosts Johnny O'Dell, Alexandra August and Woody Tondorf.

"He wanted to go and be a dad and be present in his kids' lives on a permanent basis, and I'm sure he'll still be working — I know he's doing a lot of charity stuff, because he always does — so sheriff's hat off to him, I think he did a great job with it," McIntosh said.

The British actor’s tenure on the show ended when his character Rick Grimes was flown alongside McIntosh's character in a helicopter.

His original exit would have come at a time when Rick’s gang was waging a war against Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). But Lincoln wanted his departure "to be good for the show, for the character" and signed on for five more episodes in Season 9, McIntosh said.

Lincoln is now set to continue Rick Grimes’ journey in "The Walking Dead" feature films, which are said to be a trilogy.

There has been no indication regarding when AMC plans to release the "Walking Dead" movies. Scott M. Gimple, the franchise's chief content officer, told Entertainment Weekly in January that they were yet to finalize the director or zero in on the scripts.

A teaser for the movie was released during last year’s San Diego Comic-Con. And although it did not provide a lot of information, fans believe much of the action will take place in Philadelphia. The movie will also solve the mystery of Rick's sudden disappearance and the bigger threats facing the survivors.

Aside from Lincoln and McIntosh, Danai Gurira will also be a part of "The Walking Dead" movies. Gurira bowed out of the AMC drama after her character Michonne found Rick's boots in a boat on Virgil's island. This sends her on a mission to find Rick.

AMC's "The Walking Dead" is based on the graphic novels by Robert Kirkman.