The Walking Dead’s Andrew Lincoln Joins Penguin Bloom, His First Feature Film in Nearly a Decade

Joining costar Naomi Watts, Andrew Lincoln is set to return to the silver screen to star in the forthcoming adaptation of the memoir Penguin Bloom, per THR.

Centered on photographer Cameron Bloom, the film and memoir, written by Bloom and Bradley Trevor Greive, details the story of a family dealing with the aftermath of a near-fatal car crash that leaves the family’s matriarch paralyzed. As the family comes to terms with this, an unlikely friend waltzes into their lives in the form of an injured Magpie chick, whom they name Penguin.

Lincoln is set to star as Bloom, with Watts portraying his newly paralyzed wife. While no other cast announcements have yet been made, Glendyn Ivin is set to direct the film from an adapted script from Shaun Grant and Harry Cripps. Watts will also produce the film with Emma Cooper, Bruna Papandrea, Jodi Matterson and Steve Hutensky. Production is set to begin in Australia at the beginning of August.

“We were all captivated by this heartwarming story of resilience, the power of family and hope,” the producers said, per THR. “We’re thrilled to have the supremely talented Andrew Lincoln on board to bring the Bloom’s story to audiences around the world.”

The film is Lincoln’s first major, non-Walking Dead role since 2010, when the AMC show began. Prior to that, Lincoln starred in 2010’s Heartbreaker and Made in Dagenham, as well as the series Strike Back.

Lincoln has since exited the flagship Walking Dead series, but is gearing up for three feature-length films centered around his character, Rick Grimes, in the Walking Dead universe. It was recently announced that each of Lincoln’s films will receive theatrical releases.