Rick Grimes may have been the ‘leader’ and Michonne the scene-stealer, but the beating heart of AMC’s “The Walking Dead” has long been the heartfelt and very human relationship between Melissa McBride’s Carol and Norman Reedus’ Daryl.
Both actors will also be the only two cast members who have been with the series across its entire eleven season run. In late 2020 came the news that AMC was planning a spin-off of “The Walking Dead” that will focus on the two.
Now though, AMC has confirmed in a statement that McBride is no longer going to star in the series which will be refocused entirely into a Daryl-centric spin-off. The statement reads:
“Melissa McBride has given life to one of the most interesting, real, human and popular characters in ‘The Walking Dead’ Universe. Unfortunately, she is no longer able to participate in the previously announced spin-off focused on the Daryl Dixon and Carol Peletier characters, which will be set and filmed in Europe this summer and premiere next year.
Relocating to Europe became logistically untenable for Melissa at this time. We know fans will be disappointed by this news, but ‘The Walking Dead’ Universe continues to grow and expand in interesting ways and we very much hope to see Carol again in the near future.”
The spin-off is co-created by showrunner Angela Kang and former showrunner Scott Gimple. Kang will also serve as showrunner on the spinoff which remains slated to debut in 2023.
The news doesn’t impact the other spin-offs including anthology series “Tales of the Walking Dead,” the Negan and Maggie-centered spin-off “Isle of the Dead,” and the long-gestating movie spinoffs starring Andrew Lincoln.
Source: TV Line
