The Walking Dead cast shares memories of the series at final NYCC panel

Although the ultimate eight episodes of The Strolling Lifeless’s last season are already airing, the solid took their final bittersweet bow this weekend at New York Metropolis Comedian-Con. Moderated as all the time by Speaking Lifeless’s Chris Hardwick, the panel consisted of Strolling Lifeless chief content material officer Scott M. Gimple, Norman Reedus, Lauren Cohan, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Lauren Ridloff, Eleanor Matsuura, Michael James Shaw, and Paola Lázaro.

First, followers within the viewers acquired a particular take a look at the opening two minutes of the October 9 episode, “A New Deal.” A very violent second from Norman Reedus’ character Daryl acquired such fervent cheers from the group that each Hardwick and Reedus commented on it. (Reedus additionally noticed that when Carol approached Daryl within the scene previous the violence, the room went completely nonetheless and quiet.)

“All of it comes collectively,” stated the infamously tight-lipped Gimple in regards to the last episodes. (Through the Q&A portion of the panel, a fan labeled his non-answers “Gimplisms,” which Hardwick vowed to steal.) What he did promise is that the entire characters will attain their last varieties, identical to Pokémon.

In fact with spin-offs on the horizon, the top just isn’t actually an finish for among the solid — and so the panel additionally had some spin-off enterprise to deal with. Along with the continuing sequence Worry The Strolling Lifeless, the restricted sequence The Strolling Lifeless: The World Past, and the anthology sequence Tales of the Strolling Lifeless, there are three upcoming sequence within the The Strolling Lifeless universe. First up, and presently filming in New Jersey, is the Maggie and Negan sequence titled The Strolling Lifeless: Lifeless Metropolis. Followers have been handled to some stills from the upcoming sequence that confirmed Maggie in a bar, sporting a brand new leather-based jacket. He additionally revealed that the sequence will premiere in April 2023.

Gimple didn’t have a lot to share in regards to the Rick and Michonne spin-off, which was first conceived as a feature-length movie. However there have been updates on the Daryl Dixon spin-off, which is ready and can movie in Paris, France. Reedus described the sequence as “epic in scope” and says France isn’t prepared for what they wish to do. “There’s been a whole lot of discuss,” Reedus stated, calmly alluding to Melissa McBride’s departure from the sequence. “Chill. It’s gonna be wonderful.” He additionally gave followers a Gimplism of his personal, promising “acquainted faces.”

However with the principle sequence winding down and Gimple unable to tease that a lot (with out merely spoiling the varied reveals and ending to come back), the solid was given homework: They every introduced in a photograph from their time filming the sequence to share with the group as a leaping off level for reminiscing about their expertise.

Gimple was the primary to share a photograph. He selected a handwritten observe he as soon as left for a resort laundry service after an early Danai Gurira scene the place she slice open a very gorey walker: “Please observe: this isn’t actual blood. I work for The Strolling Lifeless.” As he remembers it the blood wasn’t even a byproduct of his involvement within the scene; after he inspired her to essentially go for it, she handed the pretend blood on to him by giving him a giant hug and soiling the shirt he needed to then give to a stranger to scrub.

Reedus introduced a sepia-toned picture of him and Michael Rooker, who performed his character’s brother Merle Dixon, from the early days of The Strolling Lifeless. Reedus talked about being a fan of Rooker’s from the movie Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer earlier than forming a brotherhood with him on The Strolling Lifeless, main him to mirror on how Rooker’s character helped him higher outline who Daryl must be.

Picture: AMC

Through the Q&A portion, a fan requested how he felt about creating a personality who was not from the comedian e-book. Reedus stated that he felt a whole lot of freedom due to that to take the character in any route, and even pushed for Daryl to not grow to be Merle 2.0 again within the day. “There was a storyline that they allowed me to change,” he stated. He needed to discover what it will be like if Daryl was ashamed of his household. “As soon as [Merle’s] out of the image it type of allowed Daryl to face on his personal two ft and grow to be his personal man.”

Cohan introduced a blurry image of the solid taking part in Head’s Up throughout dinner — the blurrier the higher, as a result of it meant they have been having enjoyable throughout a time when the solid was not giving farewell speeches at a “Demise Dinner,” historically held when a solid member was killed off the present, and as an alternative simply taking part in round. Morgan’s picture — of a bunch selfie taken at lunch on Andrew Lincoln’s final day — equally embraced the camaraderie of the solid and crew.

“I selected that image as a result of that was the fourth time I’d seen Norman,” Morgan stated. “That reveals you the kindness of those individuals and the best way they welcome you. I simply assume it completely encapsulates precisely the hug that these individuals gave me.”

Ridloff and Matsuura, who each joined the present in season 9, each introduced photographs of their “little gang,” in Matsuura’s group (a.okay.a. Magna’s Group) at completely different factors in that season. Matsuura introduced one from the top of their first yr, when the remaining members of the group have been psyched to have made it to the season finale. “I don’t wish to go away,” she stated. “I don’t need it to cease. I’m certain all of you’re feeling the identical approach.”

Lastly, self-proclaimed “Strolling Lifeless child” Shaw, who joined the present just lately as Mercer (although, from the roaring crowd you’d by no means know he’d solely been within the last season) shared a photograph of him in costume with a walker performed by Greg Nicotero, The Strolling Lifeless govt producer, frequent director, and acclaimed make-up artist. “There are a whole lot of ‘Massive Boys With Toys’ moments on The Strolling Lifeless, and I really feel like the most effective ones I’ve had have been with Greg.” Shaw additionally devoted his efficiency to his father, who handed away earlier this yr, and spoke to how the solid and producers supported him.

Photograph by Bryan Bedder/Getty Photos for ReedPop

On the finish of the panel Gimple answered a query about how the comedian e-book sequence ends, and whether or not or not the flash ahead in these last pages would ever be dramatized. “The way in which that the comedian e-book ended was sensible,” he stated. “Robert [Kirkman] sprung it on all of us, and I like that he did that. I like that I didn’t get a name with a head’s up over that. As a result of he ruined many issues over time for me. I’ll inform you that I do wanna go into that world.”

Not solely is {that a} good nugget to invest on as followers wait to see how The Strolling Lifeless will finish and what occurs subsequent within the expanded universe, however it makes that ending much less bittersweet. The present retains getting resurrected by means of spin-offs and new areas and varied continuations of character arcs. There shall be new photographs to share. Goodbye simply doesn’t really feel like goodbye.