Jadis Stokes has come a long way from the garbage dump viewers first met her in withThe Walking Dead’sseventh season. After a stint onThe World Beyond,she returns in another spinoff,The Ones Who Live,as a high-ranking officer in the Civic Republic Military.The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Livesees protagonists Rick and Michonne attempting to reunite after years apart, and it remains to be seen whether Jadis will be an obstacle or an ally for the couple.
Game Rant recently spoke with Pollyanna McIntosh, who portraysThe Walking Dead’s Jadis Stokes, about the character’s journey,the conflicts Jadis faces, and her new outlook inWorld BeyondandThe Ones Who Live.McIntosh was thrilled to return to the role of Jadis, who she sees as having changed drastically due to her new association with the CRM. “She’s a very grounded, very earthy person,” McIntosh said, “but she’s been broken.” What arises from that brokenness is a new Jadis - but one with traces of the Scavenger leader she once was.
Jadis Believes When Others Do Not
McIntosh compared Jadis' outlook as a CRM warrant officer to that of Joan of Arc. Jadis, she feels, truly believes in theCRM’s efforts to restoreThe Walking Dead’s world to what it once was, even when those around her have stopped believing. She’s willing to do terrible things in the name of the CRM’s goals. McIntosh even revealed that she deliberately styled Warrant Officer Jadis' hair to resemble the iconic French figure.
I thought it would echo Joan of Arc a little bit, because Joan of Arc believes so strongly when everyone else doesn’t. I think Jadis believes that she’s doing the right thing. That the CRM is “the last light in the world” and that they can bring the world back.
Jadis has gone on quite a lengthy journey to get to where she is now. She led a group dedicated to making art even in a world overrun by walkers, using their entire junkyard home as their canvas, but the Scavengers were betrayed and slaughtered by Simon in an act McIntosh describes as “inordinately cruel.” After that, Jadis spent time inAlexandriaunder the name “Anne” before ultimately siding with the CRM and delivering Rick Grimes to them - likely leading to an upcoming confrontation inThe Ones Who Live.
The Ones Who Live Sees Jadis Reunite With Rick and Michonne
Although McIntosh couldn’t share any details, she did confirm that Jadis andRick Grimeswill interact inThe Ones Who Live.This is a confrontation fans have been waiting to see, as the pair was last seen being airlifted out by a helicopter after Jadis lied to save Rick’s life. She declared him a “B,” a lower quality human who could become a soldier or leader, rather than an “A,” a prime specimen destined to become a test subject.The Ones Who Liveis likely to address the fallout of this decision.
McIntosh is also excited to see Jadis and Michonne interact, as she considersMichonne one of her favorite characters. When asked if Michonne has forgotten Jadis' attempt to proposition Rick in front of her, McIntosh replied, “I don’t think that’s the kind of thing you can forget!”
McIntosh loved getting to be part of that scene, describing it as one of the few times viewers ever get to see Rick Grimes lost for words. While nothing romantic ever happened between Rick and Jadis, they have a checkered history together, and seeing the two - plus Michonne - come together again inThe Ones Who Livewill certainly be a treat for viewers.
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Livepremieres on AMC and AMC+ on June 06, 2025.
