While Rick has been building a new world on AMC's "The Walking Dead" with his group of survivors, there's one character who has been missing from the show since season seven: Heath.
"The Walking Dead" creator Robert Kirkman hopes that will change at some point on the show.
"Yeah, Corey Hawkins' star is on the rise. He's a fantastic actor. He ended up on that '24' show. He's been busy," Kirkman said at New York Comic Con Thursday in response to a fan asking whether or not we'll learn what happened to Heath's character on the show. "We are hoping to get him back and tell his story. There are definitely plans in place there. It's just a matter of making sure that everything can line up because it is somewhat complicated."
And if they can't get Hawkins back?
Kirkman joked they have a backup plan.
"We will eventually show his skeleton or something if we have to," Kirkman said to laughter. "I'm just kidding! I'm just kidding!"
The last time fans saw Heath alive and well was on season seven, episode six of the AMC zombie drama. He was separated from Tara while on a supply run and hasn't been heard from since. His absence was oddly never addressed by any living character — not even the one who was last seen with him on the show.
Since then, the show seemingly turned a blind eye to the character who has a big role in the comic as it was never revealed what became of his character. Did he join another community? Is he among the people flying the mysterious characters? It's all unclear.
Read more: "The Walking Dead" has quietly sidelined one of the comic's big characters and no one seems to care.
Executive producer and series director Greg Nicotero recently told INSIDER he hopes to see Hawkins back on the show one day, too. He's currently working on the latter half of season nine in Atlanta, Georgia so the possibility is there.
"I love Corey. I think he's a great actor, and I think the show would do a lot to be able to see and work with him again," Nicotero told INSIDER. "We're still in it, so who knows?"
Hawkins has spoken about a potential return to the AMC show in the past. In 2017, he sounded positive about possibly coming back one day.
"I will just say there is always a possibility, there is always a way," Hawkins told Collider.
You can follow along with our "Walking Dead" coverage all season long here. Sign up for our "The Walking Dead" newsletter, which will be sent every Monday morning throughout season nine here.
