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

The final 8 episodes are not available on this website. The Walking Dead’s final season are already airing, the cast took their last bittersweet bow this weekend at New York City Comic-Con. Moderator as usual by Talking Dead’s Chris Hardwick, the panel consisted of Walking Dead chief content officer Scott M. Gimple, Norman Reedus, Lauren Cohan, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Lauren Ridloff, Eleanor Matsuura, Michael James Shaw, and Paola Lázaro.

First, fans in the audience got a special look at the opening two minutes of the October 9 episode, “A New Deal.” A particularly violent moment from Norman Reedus’ character Daryl got such fervent cheers from the crowd that both Hardwick and Reedus commented on it. Reedus also noted that the audience was quiet when Carol approached Daryl during the scene before the violence.

“It all comes together,” said the infamously tight-lipped Gimple about the final episodes. (During 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 all of the characters will reach their final forms, just like Pokémon.

Of course with spin-offs on the horizon, the end is not really an end for some of the cast — and so the panel also had some spin-off business to take care of. The ongoing series was not the only thing that matters. Fear The Walking DeadLimited Series The Walking Dead: The World Beyond,The anthology series and Tales of the Walking Dead,Three series are coming to The Walking Dead. Filming is underway in New Jersey for the Maggie and Negan series. The Walking Dead: Dead City. Some stills of the series were shown to fans, which showed Maggie wearing a leather jacket in a bar. The series premieres in April 2023, he said.

Gimple had little to say about Rick and Michonne’s spin-off. It was initially conceived as an extended feature. However, there was some news about the Daryl Dixon spinoff. It is currently being set in Paris and will be filming in France. Reedus described the series as “epic in scope” and says France isn’t ready for what they want to do. “There’s been a lot of talk,” Reedus said, lightly alluding to Melissa McBride’s departure from the series. “Chill. It’s gonna be fine.” He also gave fans a Gimplism of his own, promising “familiar faces.”

Gimple is unable to give any tease with the end of the main series. ThisMuch more was done without spoiling any of the shows or endings. The cast were given homework. Each member brought in a photograph from when they were filming for the series.

Gimple was first to upload a photograph. He chose a handwritten note he once left for a hotel laundry service after an early Danai Gurira scene where she slice open a particularly gorey walker: “Please note: this is not real blood. I work for The Walking Dead.” As he remembers it the blood wasn’t even a byproduct of his involvement in the scene; after he encouraged her to really go for it, she passed the fake blood on to him by giving him a big hug and soiling the shirt he had to then give to a stranger to clean.

Reedus brought a sepia-toned photo of him and Michael Rooker, who played his character’s brother Merle Dixon, from the early days of The Walking Dead. Reedus talked about being a fan of Rooker’s from the film Henry: Portrait of Serial Killer Before forming a brotherhood together on The Walking Dead, leading him to reflect on how Rooker’s character helped him better define who Daryl should be.

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During the Q&A portion, a fan asked how he felt about creating a character who was not from the comic book. Reedus explained that it gave him a lot more freedom than he expected to be able to go in any direction. In fact, he even tried to get Daryl to stop becoming Merle 2.0. “There was a storyline that they allowed me to alter,” he said. Daryl would have to be ashamed, he said. “Once [Merle’s] out of the picture it kind of allowed Daryl to stand on his own two feet and become his own man.”

Cohan brought a blurry picture of the cast playing Head’s Up during dinner — the blurrier the better, because it meant they were having fun during a time when the cast was not giving farewell speeches at a “Death Dinner,” traditionally held when a cast member was killed off the show, and instead just playing around. Morgan’s photo — of a group selfie taken at lunch on Andrew Lincoln’s last day — similarly embraced the camaraderie of the cast and crew.

“I chose that picture because that was the fourth time I’d seen Norman,” Morgan said. “That shows you the kindness of these people and the way they welcome you. I just think it perfectly encapsulates exactly the hug that these people gave me.”

Ridloff and Matsuura, who both joined the show in season 9, both brought photos of their “little gang,” in Matsuura’s group (a.k.a. Magna’s Group) at different points in that season. Matsuura had one at the beginning of their second year. The remaining members were excited to reach the finale. “I don’t want to leave,” she said. “I don’t want it to stop. I’m sure all of you feel the same way.”

Finally, self-proclaimed “Walking Dead baby” Shaw, who joined the show recently as Mercer (though, from the roaring crowd you’d Never know he’d only been in the final season) shared a photo of him in costume with a walker played by Greg Nicotero, The Walking DeadDirector, executive producer and highly regarded make-up artist. “There are a lot of ‘Big Boys With Toys’ moments on The Walking Dead, and I feel like the best ones I’ve had have been with Greg.” Shaw also dedicated his performance to his father, who passed away earlier this year, and spoke to how the cast and producers supported him.

Bryan Bedder/Getty Images, ReedPop

Gimple addressed a question at the panel about the ending of the comic series and whether the final page’s flash forward would be ever been dramatized. “The way that the comic book ended was brilliant,” he said. “Robert [Kirkman]It was a surprise for us all. I love it that he did this. I love that I did not get a call with a head’s up over that. He has ruined so many of my dreams over the years. I’ll tell you that I do wanna go into that world.”

This is a great nugget for speculation, as well as allowing fans to wait and see what happens next. The Walking DeadIt makes it less sad to know how the show will end. Spin-offs, new locales, and continued character arcs keep the show alive. New photos will be shared. Goodbye just doesn’t feel like goodbye.