{"id":2147299,"date":"2025-11-10T20:26:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T20:26:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2147299"},"modified":"2025-11-10T20:26:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T20:26:09","slug":"the-walking-deads-zombie-virus-origin-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/the-walking-deads-zombie-virus-origin-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"The Walking Dead&#8217;s Zombie Virus Origin Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;The Walking Dead&#8221; is full of mysteries, and for most of the series&#8217;s existence, the origin of the zombie virus was the biggest mystery of all. Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and all the other series mainstays learn plenty about the walkers that have overrun the planet, but they never do figure out where the zombies came from in the first place.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.looper.com\/1270853\/every-walking-dead-spin-off-coming-after-original-series-finale\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:The &quot;Walking Dead&quot; spinoffs;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">The &#8220;Walking Dead&#8221; spinoffs<\/a> helped give us a global view of the zombie apocalypse, but only one revealed the biggest secret in the franchise. A post-credits scene in the Season 2 finale of &#8220;The Walking Dead: The World Beyond&#8221; takes viewers to a biomedical lab in France, where a woman is desperately rooting around in dusty cabinets for computer drives. After watching an old video from Dr. Jenner (Noah Emmerich) at the Centers for Disease Control, she&#8217;s approached by a man who&#8217;s training a gun on her. The man claims that the woman and all the other researchers who had once worked for the facility were responsible for creating the zombie virus. Before she can say much more, he shoots her, and the scene ends with her corpse rising up as a zombie.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">That post-credits scene does tie back to the very first season of &#8220;The Walking Dead,&#8221; but its implications for the franchise at large are hazy at best. Despite being one of the biggest reveals in the show&#8217;s history, the zombie origin story is an easy thing to miss in &#8220;The Walking Dead.&#8221; It&#8217;s also worlds away from the origin story that creator Robert Kirkman once hinted at in the comics.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Read more: <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.looper.com\/18580\/untold-truth-bones\/?zsource=yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:The Untold Truth Of Bones;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">The Untold Truth Of Bones<\/a><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">What the zombie virus origin means for The Walking Dead<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Dr. Jenner wearing biohazard suit in a lab in &#8220;The Walking Dead&#8221; (2010-2022) &#8211; AMC<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;The Walking Dead&#8221; has been hinting at the origin of the zombie virus since the show&#8217;s earliest days. Season 1 ended with our survivors arriving at the CDC headquarters outside of Atlanta. There they meet a scientist named Dr. Jenner who tells Rick a terrible secret about the virus. Dr. Jenner dies, but Rick eventually reveals his secret in Season 2. The doctor didn&#8217;t know where the zombie virus came from, but he did know that every living human on the planet had already been infected with it. Everyone who dies is doomed to become a walker.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Now we know that Dr. Jenner was actually in communication with the French lab that started it all. Does that mean he, or some of his fellow scientists, were getting close to a cure? That was certainly something that Dr. Jenner and the woman investigating the research facility wanted, but now that all the scientists are dead, their research is virtually useless.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">We know from <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.looper.com\/611426\/the-entire-walking-dead-timeline-finally-explained\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:the overall &quot;Walking Dead&quot; timeline;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">the overall &#8220;Walking Dead&#8221; timeline<\/a> that zombies are still roaming the Earth more than a decade after the collapse of civilization. For most of the people still alive, the origin of the virus doesn&#8217;t matter anymore. The post-credits scene from &#8220;The World Beyond&#8221; does include some hints about the zombie variants that would later appear in the &#8220;Daryl Dixon&#8221; series, but the scene&#8217;s most dramatic reveal has almost no impact on the franchise as a whole.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">Aliens created zombies in The Walking Dead comics<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Zombies attacking Dale in &quot;The Walking Dead&quot; (2010-2022)\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"780\" height=\"438\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/HsJzId1zBIEZU4..hftZpQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTUzOTtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/looper_828\/b3976d50bf1f94651d43bf61c6d09c2e\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Zombies attacking Dale in &#8220;The Walking Dead&#8221; (2010-2022) &#8211; AMC<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">There are some things that <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.looper.com\/352941\/what-only-comic-book-fans-know-about-the-walking-deads-rick-grimes\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:only comic book fans know about &quot;The Walking Dead,&quot;;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">only comic book fans know about &#8220;The Walking Dead,&#8221;<\/a> and for a long time the origin of the zombie virus was one of those \u2014 sort of. For years there were hints and jokes in the pages of &#8220;The Walking Dead&#8221; that the infection might have come from space. Then in 2013, there was an issue that included a short side story called &#8220;Small Bites,&#8221; written by Derek Hunter, that addressed the origin head-on. &#8220;Small Bites&#8221; made it clear that an alien ship crashed on Earth and inadvertently instigated the zombie apocalypse.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;Small Bites&#8221; is clearly written outside the normal style of &#8220;The Walking Dead,&#8221; and because of that it&#8217;s tempting to write off the alien origin story as a joke. If it is a gag, though, it&#8217;s one that series creator Robert Kirkman is very committed to. Kirkman was asked in 2020 about the zombie virus origin by a fan on Twitter, and the writer stated plainly that zombies were created by a space spore. Kirkman is also the creator of &#8220;Invincible,&#8221; so fans know that he does have extraterrestrial threats on the brain \u2014 just don&#8217;t expect aliens to appear in the TV show version of Kirkman&#8217;s zombie universe anytime soon.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">If you enjoyed this article, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/subscribe.looper.com\/newsletter-syndicated\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:sign up to our free newsletter;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">sign up to our free newsletter<\/a> for the biggest movie and TV news delivered straight to your inbox. You can also <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=looper.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:add us as a preferred search source;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">add us as a preferred search source<\/a> on Google.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Read the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.looper.com\/2017579\/the-walking-dead-zombie-outbreak-virus-origin-explained\/?zsource=yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:original article on Looper;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">original article on Looper<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;The Walking Dead&#8221; is full of mysteries, and for most of the series&#8217;s existence, the origin of the zombie virus was the biggest mystery of all. Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and all the other series mainstays learn plenty about the walkers that have overrun the planet, but they never do figure out where the zombies [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2147300,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[362125,369246,344609,349237,311535,410427],"class_list":["post-2147299","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-andrew-lincoln","tag-origin-story","tag-rick","tag-robert-kirkman","tag-the-walking-dead","tag-zombie-virus"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/The-Walking-Deads-Zombie-Virus-Origin-Explained.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2147299","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2147299"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2147299\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2147301,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2147299\/revisions\/2147301"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2147300"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2147299"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2147299"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2147299"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}