Norman Reedus, The Walking Dead’s Daryl Dixon, discusses the filming of Daryl and Carol’s final scene. Both Daryl and Carol (Melissa McBride) are the longest-running characters on the show, given that they have appeared since season 1. Their friendship has often been cited by fans as one of the most wholesome and strongest storylines on The Walking Dead, especially due to its development over the seasons. As of last weekend, The Walking Dead has officially come to an end with its eventful series finale, though the franchise will live on through a plethora of spinoffs. Reedus will lead one of his own, Daryl Dixon, but McBride is taking a break from playing Carol and won't appear.
Reedus breaks down Carol and Daryl's goodbye scene with Entertainment Weekly, calling it a highly emotional experience for both him and McBride. He emphasizes how their Walking Dead characters’ bond reflected their own real-life friendship, which only made the day more intense. Check out the full quote below:
Yeah, that was a really emotional day. The subtext was heavier than the text. It was wild. There are certain parts of real life that blend in with story lines sometimes, and that was a really heavy day. It felt like a funeral. It was very quiet on set. It was a very rough day — sad and very heavy… There was a lot of dialogue that was kind of jokey and we kind of took out the jokey-ness because it was such a real day, and to say jokey dialogue, it kind of didn't make sense. I don't know where that came from or how that idea germinated. Actually, I think Melissa started that ball rolling and it kind of rolled in the wrong direction by the time we got to shooting it. It had become such a real situation that we just needed to play it real.
What's Next for Daryl in The Walking Dead Universe
Since its premiere, The Walking Dead has been the go-to show when it comes to the zombie-horror genre. Building off its comic source material, the television series has reached incredible heights in terms of popularity, though recent years have seen its viewership dwindle. Nevertheless, its cultural impact remains remarkable. The Walking Dead has notably boosted the careers of several members of its cast, including Andrew Lincoln, Danai Gurira, and Steven Yeun, among many others.
Reedus’ spin-off show was revealed last month to be titled after his character, Daryl Dixon, and to have commenced filming in France. Set in Paris, Daryl will be joined by two leading characters: Isabelle (Clémence Poésy), a member of a progressive religious group, and Quinn (Adam Nagaitis), a black marketeer and underground nightclub owner. Daryl Dixon is set to air sometime next year. The show was originally going to star Reedus and McBride as the two leads, but the latter dropped out ahead of production getting underway. While a future Carol appearance hasn't been ruled out, it isn't confirmed that McBride will reprise her Walking Dead role on Daryl Dixon down the line.
For right now, though, Daryl's Walking Dead future is set. It isn't entirely clear what will bring him to France for his spinoff, but Reedus has hinted that Daryl is brought there against his will. How long the Daryl Dixon spinoff will run for isn't yet clear, but depending on the plot, it could pave the way for Reedus' character to join another Walking Dead show. Rick Grimes (Lincoln) and Michonne (Gurira) will lead a spinoff of their own, and considering Daryl's bond with Rick, the two could reunite at some point. With its continuously expanding franchise, The Walking Dead has become much greater and bigger than itself. This means there is plenty ahead for Daryl, and hopefully there will be more for Carol someday as well.
Source: Entertainment Weekly