Walking Dead: How Did The Virus Start? The Zombie Outbreak ...

The Walking Dead: Dramatic trailer for second half of season 10

AMC series The Walking Dead is into its 10th season and still going strong with a major character teased to return. Just like a viral infection, the show is growing and spreading. Along with the prequel spin-off series Fear The Walking Dead, there’s another series in the works and a number of films with character Rick Grimes (played by Andrew Lincoln).

• Walking Dead season 10: When does The Walking Dead return in 2020?
• Walking Dead Saints and Sinners is the second best video game tie-in

How did the zombie virus start in The Walking Dead?

The Walking Dead started with a zombie virus which mysteriously broke out and infected people.

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT

In season one, the zombie virus quickly spread and caused chaos as people were infected and in turn spread the condition.

From what fans have learnt over the years, the virus reanimates dead bodies and if a person if bitten then they become infected.

The zombies feed on the carcasses of other animals and don’t seem to have any intelligence.

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT

READ MORE: Walking Dead season 10: When does The Walking Dead return in 2020?

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT

The Walking Dead is set in a world in the aftermath of the zombie outbreak (Image: FOX)

The Walking Dead has never explored the causes of the virus (Image: FOX)

• The Walking Dead: Cause of Walker virus finally uncovered by creator?

The only way to stop the Walkers is by cutting off their heads or burning them.

Over the years, many characters have been infected and become members of the undead horde, who have to be slain by their former friends to stop the spread of infection.

When Eugene Porter (Josh McDermitt) initially arrived in The Walking Dead, he posed as a scientist heading to Washington DC to end the outbreak.

However, his lie was soon uncovered and his main purpose became to survive from the zombie and the likes of Alpha (Samantha Morton) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan).

The Walking Dead: Fear The Walking Dead doesn't explore the virus (Image: FOX)

The Walking Dead: The virus was caused by space spores (Image: FOX)

The Walking Dead comics have now wrapped up with the final issue #193 coming out last year.

Many fans are still curious to know how it all started and it seems The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman finally gave an answer when he posted on Twitter.

He told his 663,000 followers on the social media platform simply: “Space spore” in reference to the beginning of the virus.

While it’s not clear whether he was joking or being sarcastic, the response to a fan seems similar to things Kirkman has said in the past.

• The Walking Dead season 10: Rosita killed by Whisperer in hidden clue?
• The Walking Dead season 10: Andrea blunder uncovered leaving fans 'mad

In a Tumblr Q&A from 2018, Kirkman said the cause of the virus was "a crazy sci-fi thing that would make the story all that much weirder."

He also went on to say at the time: "It couldn’t be less important to the story and the lives of these characters. It would be completely out of place in the story.

“Honestly if a scientist from Washington came to the character and told them what happened the characters would just shrug and say 'Oh… okay…' it wouldn’t change their lives at all… and… I’ve said too much’.”

According to Gamespot, space spore could be a homage to the father of zombie movies George A. Romero and his 1968 movie Night of the Living Dead in which a zombie outbreak was caused by a space probe returning to Earth.

DON'T MISS...

Phillip Schofield shocked as Alison Hammond walks off This Morning set [VIDEO]Aljaz Skorjanec: Strictly Come Dancing pro admits fears of being axed ][INTERVIEW]Simon Rimmer: Sunday Brunch host speaks out on diagnosis [INTERVIEW]

Review, gossip and upcoming show releases plus selected offers and competition Subscribe Invalid email

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

Get More of Our News on Google

Set Daily Express as a 'Preferred Source' to get quicker access to the news you value.

• ‘Like Walking Dead’ Coronavirus hell as corpses litter hospitals

There were previously hopes Fear The Walking Dead might explore the outbreak given it takes place just as the outbreak starts.

However, the prequel series hasn’t gone down this route and instead is again focusing on humans put in extreme circumstances and the innate survival instinct of people.

Going forward, The Walking Dead is also unlikely to explore the outbreak further either and will continue to see the survivors facing new villains in this post-apocalyptic world.

Kirkman also ruled out exploring the causes of the virus because "it's been done on a lot of other zombie stories,” reported Comic Book.

He also said about leaving an aura of mystery, explaining: "because you know it’s kind of a mythology-breaking proposition. You don’t want that kind of thing as far as somebody being immune."

The Walking Dead season 10 returns on February 23 on AMC and on February 24 on FOX UK.

The Walking Dead AMC Fox Twitter Serie A Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Comments Most Read Most Commented BBC Laura Kuenssberg fans 'switch off' in minutes as they issue same complaint Strictly Tess and Claudia replacement 'confirmed' – and it's between two huge stars Call the Midwife star Cliff Parisi feels '30 years younger' after losing 5 stone GB News interrupted for breaking alert as Keir Starmer dealt most humiliating blow yet 5 big Coronation Street spoilers - Todd Grimshaw collapses and Debbie's prison horror 'Masterpiece' musical 'better than Dirty Dancing' is streaming for free REVIEW Lord of the Flies has landed on the BBC - but it should have stayed in book form Kelvin Fletcher's marriage from childhood meeting to knowing she was 'The One' I've watched the same TV show every week for a decade and it has 95% approval rating BBC's Holly Hamilton admits 'it's not all been smooth sailing' in emotional admission ‘Masterpiece’ detective series that ‘all Sherlock and High Potential fans will love’ Strictly’s Carlos Gu 'confirms' Tess and Claudia replacement as 'surprise' duo 'Masterpiece' period drama with all episodes streaming free is 'better than Bridgerton' BBC star Michael Sundin's tragic death after Blue Peter exit as touching tribute paid ITV The 1% Club player does something 'never seen before' in final question 'Masterpiece' thriller with Better Call Saul star ready for Netflix fans Masked Singer's Moth breaks down in tears as fans 'rumble' true identity ITV Masked Singer 2026 finalists revealed as two stars forced to leave competition ITV viewers switch off minutes into The Masked Singer amid Davina McCall complaint Sky News halts for breaking Trump news - and it's very bad news for Starmer BBC Gladiators contender's sweet nod to father who appeared on show 30 years ago BBC Gladiators hosts share announcement as star left injured in freak accident 'Unmissable' Netflix thriller fans are binge watching until 2am GMB star drops Harry and Meghan's reaction after Andrew bombshell as royals humiliated BBC viewers switch off after Mariah Carey's appearance 'ruined Winter Olympics' 'Best movie of the decade' with beloved Bridgerton star is streaming now Netflix's 'wild' murder mystery confirms exciting season 2 setting CNN interrupted for breaking Trump news in devastating blow for president Keir Starmer destroyed on GB News with humiliating four-word takedown Coleen Nolan, 60, stuns fans in figure-hugging dress after weight loss Latest videos NHS-funded cousin marriage study 'biased' and ‘downplays birth defects’ Clothes will dry outside in February if hung out at these times of the day Biggest flying boat in the world is so huge its wingspan is longer than a football pitch Scrambled eggs are richer and silkier if you ditch 1 overused ingredient 'Cinematic masterpiece' based on iconic horror series leaving Netflix

Daily Express uses notifications to keep you updated

Keep me updated No thanks