The Walking Dead showrunner Angela Kang has stated that the show's intended ending has been changed prior to the series finale. After airing on television for 12 years and 11 seasons, AMC's The Walking Dead franchise is finally closing the curtain on its flagship series. Once renowned for being the most popular television show on cable in the 2010s, the series has drawn a smaller but still-dedicated audience as the years have gone by. This prompted AMC to create a sprawling zombie television franchise, deviating from the one-track story of Robert Kirkman's original comic series. Additions to the series include long-running prequel spinoff Fear the Walking Dead as well as the recent time-hopping anthology Tales of the Walking Dead.
While these established spinoffs may continue production, The Walking Dead is poised to begin airing its final eight episodes tonight, broadcasting the series finale on November 20, 2022. So far, it looks like tensions will be high as the ensemble cast of survivors struggles against the might of the Commonwealth. Lance Hornsby appears to be the final antagonist Daryl, Maggie, and other heroes will have to fight in the show's last batch of episodes. With promotional videos indicating Eugene may be on trial in the Commonwealth while Negan and other characters begin planning Lance's downfall, the final episodes of The Walking Dead are sure to be full of surprises.
During an interview with Radio Times, The Walking Dead showrunner Angela Kang revealed the final scene of the show had been changed ahead of the series finale. Kang was adamant not to spoil anything for excited viewers, wanting them to see the finished product for themselves. Check out what Kang said below:
"I will say without spoiling that our intended final scene is not the final scene anymore. I won't go into that now, so early in the process, but sometimes, even after you've shot things, it changes in the post-production process. It's a living work, as we go.
"It's... I don't even know if I should say that much! Let's just say that things changed."
How The Walking Dead Could End
Kang's revelation that The Walking Dead's final scene changed during production may hint at alterations being made to acknowledge the franchise's future. There have been no concrete announcements regarding if the finale will tie into AMC's planned spinoffs in 2023. While Fear the Walking Dead has been renewed for an eighth season, The Walking Dead's future will also be populated by three sequels following various characters from the show, including Daryl, Maggie, and Rick Grimes. As Daryl and Maggie still appear in the parent series, it's possible the final scene may set up their journeys to Europe and New York, respectively.
Viewers may be in the dark about what exactly happens in The Walking Dead's finale, but Angela Kang's announcement about the changed ending provides a compelling point of discussion prior to the show's end. The series finale is already being set up as an action-packed event, with director Greg Nicotero confirming a massive zombie horde will appear. Perhaps the final episode will draw from the show's roots, exhibiting zombies as a major threat to humanity by having a horde kill some beloved cast members whose final fates are as-yet unknown. It's also possible the Commonwealth remains the last antagonist the group has to face, with a plethora of zombies getting thrown in for good measure. It should be exciting to see how the final scene of the show draws on the massive finale Kang, Nicotero, and the rest of the crew have ready for viewers.
Source: Radio Times