AMC’s The Walking Dead came to its conclusion in 2022. However, considering the numerous amount of spinoffs expanding the franchise, including the ongoing series The Ones Who Live, its universe is only getting bigger. Even though the series finale answered some big questions, it also left several others unanswered. In fact, for nearly six years and counting, one of the biggest unanswered questions that fans continue to ask involves the whereabouts of the former recurring character Heath.
While Heath played a much bigger role in the TWD comic books, he only appeared in seven episodes of the series. With the casting of then-rising star Corey Hawkins, fresh off the success of Straight Outta Compton, it certainly seemed like there were plans to have Heath stick around longer. Despite the character’s frustratingly ambiguous fate, thanks to showrunner Angela Kang, not only do the fans finally have an update on it, but there might even be a possibility to bring Heath back.
Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on March 20, 2024: The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live finally brings back fan-favorite characters Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne (Danai Gurira). The spinoff series answers many questions left behind by the flagship series, tying up the loose ends that have plagued fans for years. However, one major mystery remains unanswered: whatever happened to Heath after he disappeared in The Walking Dead’s seventh season? The Ones Who Live may finally resolve this longstanding mystery.
Heath’s Unanswered Fate on The Walking Dead Frustrated So Many Fans
Heath was a fan-favorite character in Robert Kirkman’s original comic book, making his introduction in live-action inevitable. Introduced in Season 6, Heath was a member and supply runner of the Alexandria-Safe Zone. Despite his cynical attitude, he remained determined and loyal to his fellow survivors. He volunteered in Rick’s plan to herd away walkers from the quarry and was last seen in the sixth episode of Season 7, “Swear.” He’s first seen in the episode during a flashback where he and Tara had driven the RV out on a supply run. Later on, Heath seemingly abandons Tara after she falls from the bridge during their encounter with a group of walkers.
This differs greatly from the ongoing role Heath had in the comics, surviving into the final issue and participating in the major battles against Negan, the Saviors, and the Commonwealth. While there was plenty of room for his TV counterpart to grow and partake in these notable story arcs, he was ultimately written off the series due to Hawkins’ departure and taking on bigger roles in other projects. Thanks to several Walking Dead spinoff series, however, the character’s six-year-long cliffhanger might finally get its resolution.
What Happened To Heath After His Disappearance?
To the partial relief of fans, a statement from Angela Kang on Business Insider provided them with an explanation as to where Heath had been since Season 7. According to Kang, Heath was taken by Jadis and the Scavengers off-screen and was traded off to the CRM for supplies. His ultimate fate afterward is still unknown, but this update leaves two possibilities. Under the CRM, Heath could’ve been labeled as either an A, which would turn him into a walker test subject, or a B, which would allow him to live, but under the conditions of hard labor or drafted as a soldier. The note that Tara finds left behind at Heath’s last known location suggests that he was indeed labeled a “B,” confirming that the CRM would have brought him into its work program.
While also referring to Hawkins as a “terrific actor,” Kang expressed hope for Hawkins to reprise his role. With the CRM back in the picture in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, the stage for Heath’s return and a solid answer for his fate has finally been set. Whether it will ever be used or if his story will ever get a proper conclusion remains up in the air. Although showrunners have been silent on Heath’s return in the lead-up to The Ones Who Live, the chances remain high that he could appear in the spinoff series’ final episodes.
Will Heath Appear On The Ones Who Live?
It’s only a matter of time before Heath appears in The Ones Who Live. It is no coincidence that the very same group who kidnapped Rick also took Heath over a year earlier. As a result, it wouldn’t be out of place for the two characters to cross paths again. If the CRM indeed labeled Heath a “B,” then he would have ended up in a similar program as Rick in Episode 1 of The Ones Who Live. Like Rick, Heath would have been given the chance to earn his way into the city of Philadelphia. With over a year’s head start ahead of Rick, Heath could already be in the city, waiting to be discovered in future episodes.
Conversely, if the CRM was able to break Rick Grimes, then it certainly would have been able to break Heath, too. A strong survivor with fighting skills, Heath may have earned his way into the upper echelons of the CRM during his years of service. If this is the case, then Heath could emerge as a villain in future episodes of The Ones Who Live. This would make Rick and Michonne’s struggle more personal, as they are forced to fight against a former ally. Making Heath a villain would finally give Corey Hawkins a meaty role in the series and a chance to flex his acting muscles beyond anything he was given in Seasons 6 and 7 of The Walking Dead.
Heath’s disappearance remains one of the biggest lingering mysteries in The Walking Dead Universe. However, audiences may finally get an answer to this longstanding question at some point in The Ones Who Live. Heath is certainly still out there, still alive, and ready to reunite with Rick and Michonne, either to help burn the CRM to the ground or bolster it.