Last summer, Michonne actor Danai Gurira announced she would leave The Walking Dead during Season 10. The recent episode “What We Become” was her last, but with an exit ending in a quest, Michonne’s story continues — even if it’s off-screen for the time being. With a long-lost love to find and untold corners of a zombie-infested world ahead, it seems almost inevitable we’ll see Gurira wield her katana again.

In an interview, the franchise’s Chief Content Officer, Scott Gimple, poked at the possibility of a Michonne return. Gimple revealed he absolutely sees a place for Michonne in upcoming TWD projects. Though nothing has yet been confirmed, it seems likely that Michonne will reunite with Rick on the big screen. Michonne entered the series at the end of season 2 and became Rick’s significant other in Season 6. A maternal figure to Rick’s son, Carl, Michonne became the only mother his daughter, Judith, would ever know and a biological one to Rick Jr., who Rick Senior doesn’t even know about.

The existence of RJ alone is a rally call for Michonne to return home. In her final outing, Michonne left The Walking Dead flagship in search of her husband, and in the episode’s last moments encountered a mass migration of civilization. Thousands upon thousands marched with livestock and supplies towards an unknown destination. And that’s the last The Walking Dead will see of the character. Or rather, her last appearance on the original TWD show.

The last we saw of Rick he was being taken away in a well-stocked helicopter. Only a large group of people would have the ability to maintain and fly aircraft in the apocalypse, so perhaps the group Michonne saw is the same one that took Rick.

If the comics are any indication of where the TV and film TWD universe is headed, then maybe Rick has been taken to the Commonwealth. A community 50,000 strong, it’s also the home of Eugene’s radio love connection. This could provide the opportunity for other television characters to become part of the Rick Grimes-centric movies that were previously announced. Scott Gimple stated the goal of The Walking Dead movies is to continue Rick’s story, and according to the comics, his story ends in this community (with Michonne).

With Andrew Lincoln already signed on for the three movies it only makes sense for Gurira to be next. Admitting that Danai Gurira is a now a popular movie star, Gimple expressed his hope to see Gurira continue the role of Michonne. Given her rising profile, Gurira could be an added draw for the movies, especially now that it’s been announced that they will be released in theaters.

However Gimple also noted Gurira could headline a movie all her own. Going one step further, Gimple added that future Michonne projects might not necessarily include Rick Grimes at all.

At this moment in apocalypse time, Michonne is on a quest to find her partner, but how long it will take to find him or what terrain or conflict she will have to conquer in between, remains to be seen. There’s a lot of story there, which could unfold in any number of ways. The Walking Dead is very much becoming its own universe with three shows and counting. And with AMC continuing to build out The Walking Dead brand, a Michonne limited series following her current journey before finding Rick is a distinct possibility — and one that could dovetail nicely with her inclusion in the movies.

Given her open-ended exit, Michonne’s return seems inevitable. Whether it’s Michonne alone or accompanied by the Brave Man, a playful call sign for Rick, her katana is likely to strike again.

The Walking Dead stars Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride, Josh McDermitt, Christian Serratos, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Seth Gilliam, Ross Marquand, Khary Payton and Cooper Andrews. It airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on AMC.