The most iconic, long-running post-apocalyptic TV franchise is undoubtedly The Walking Dead, and it is still going strong with its recent slew of spin-offs, one of which highlights fan-favorite character duo Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) and Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride) on international escapades that allow fans to see how the apocalypse has affected the rest of the world in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon.

Daryl Dixon is the second time the franchise has really stepped out of post-apocalyptic America, as we and Daryl embark on a European tour marked with French love stories, British sailors, and now Spanish folklore. Three seasons in, and the spin-off is still shooting ahead like a bolt from Daryl’s crossbow, bringing on a cast of new faces including Clémence Poésy, Louis Puech Scigliuzzi, Óscar Jaenada, Hugo Arbues, and Alexandra Masangkay.

During this year’s New York Comic Con, ahead of the Season 3 finale, Collider’s Perri Nemiroff sat with the team behind the spin-off, including Chief Content Officer Scott M. Gimple, showrunner and executive producer (EP) David Zabel, director and EP Greg Nicotero, and Reedus, who also serves as an EP. They reminisce on their favorite interview and panel moments during the long period since the franchise has been running, where we find out if Daryl is ever going to get a happy ending. Reedus also teases that Daryl will be looking inwards in future seasons of the spin-off series, where his characterization and mental state will be evaluated in this post-apocalyptic landscape. You can hear all about this straight from the cast and crew in the video above, or feel free to follow along via the transcript below.

‘The Walking Dead’ Team Shares Their Wildest and Most Memorable Fan Moments

“I was terrified.”

Image via JT Anderson

PERRI NEMIROFF: I feel very blessed to be doing this type of work for a very, very long time, and one of my earliest, most formative memories is seeing one of the first Walking Dead panels in this building, and it changed everything. Being part of that room electrified me and made cons a big part of my life going forward. For each of you, can you single out a convention moment that still has a big place in your heart, something that makes you know to your core you’re not just making an entertaining show, but you’re making something that really means a lot to people?

GREG NICOTERO: When we were shooting the main show, and it was July and we had been filming for a couple of months, going to San Diego rejuvenated us a lot because the love that we got from the fans and the commitment and the loyalty was really like, “Okay, we’re ready to go back and finish up.” And it’s been 15 years. So, I think on this show, indeed, we’ve tried to open it up, shooting in Europe, and kind of a whole new world. So, I always have been grateful for the support of the people who come to these shows.

NORMAN REEDUS: Yeah, it’s wild. We just had one in Málaga, the very first ever Comic-Con, San Diego/Málaga, and it was packed. It was like The Beatles. I mean, as far as you can see, from left to right.

DAVID ZABEL: It’s like 3,500 people, and they turned away another, like, 700.

REEDUS: We’ve always gotten a lot of love at Comic-Cons. But that Madison Square Garden event, when I rode the motorcycle up, I was terrified. Then they had a rainstorm that night, so they’re bringing me back to the back, and the guy’s screaming, he’s like, “Be really careful! There’s cardboard everywhere because of the wet feet.” And I’m like, “Wait, what?” He’s like, “Be careful!” I’m like, “Where’s the cardboard?” And he’s like, “Five… four…” And I was terrified. That was a sold out Madison Square Garden event. I remember getting up to the top and looking at Steven Yeun, and he’s like, “You did it.” I was shaking. I was so nervous I was going to crash.

That was a special one, too.

REEDUS: Yeah. We’ve always had a packed house. We have really good fans and people. They’re definitely a part of us.

Image via JT Anderson

ZABEL: I have a little intimate one. I haven’t been around as long as these guys have, but it’s been amazing actually joining up and seeing the fan base’s commitment to the show and to these characters. Last year in New York, we’d just screened a piece of an episode in which Isabelle, the character played by Clémence Poésy, died, and this guy came up to me — he was about 22 — after the thing. He was holding all kinds of Walking Dead swag and Daryl Dixon swag, and he was crying, and he said, “Isn’t Daryl ever going to be happy? When is Daryl ever going to be happy?” And it was really moving to me. It was really moving to me because he was so invested in the character and what Norman’s done and what the show has done around that, that it was one of those moments, I think, which is what you’re asking about, where I was like, “Wow, this really means so much to have a fan base that just is so invested in who these people are and what’s going to happen to them and what’s happening to them.” So, that was definitely a moment where I was like, “Wow, it’s pretty cool that I get to help tell these stories and advance these characters in this world, when there are people out there to whom it means so much.”

I think about that all the time with my favorite characters. I just want them to live happily ever after, but if they did, I wouldn’t have a TV show.

ZABEL: [Laughs] Well, I kind of said that to the guy. I said, “Maybe not anytime soon. It is an apocalypse he’s living in.”

SCOTT GIMPLE: I have no memory. I can’t. No, the thing that sticks out to me, actually, is, before I was showrunning the show, I was some sort of writer-producer. I don’t know what my title was. Honestly, I don’t. But it was Season 2, I do remember that, and I was just sitting in the audience for the Walking Dead Season 2 panel, and it was like, “Oh, man,” just seeing them talk about it and seeing what they showed. I was like, “Man, I get to work on this show.” I was a fan of the show in the first season. I didn’t work on the first season; I started on the second season. So, I don’t know, being able to continue that fan thought, that fan space, that fan whatever — I got to be a fan while working on the show, and be psyched about getting to work that Monday.

Scott Gimple Shares Promising News for the Future of ‘The Walking Dead’

Image via JT Anderson

Scott, big question for you. I think about this specific thing all the time, and I don’t often get the opportunity to speak to someone who is at the head of a gigantic universe like this. I am fascinated by how viewing habits and the way we like to interact with content change. It’s always changed, but it’s changing more rapidly than ever right now. So, as the person spearheading all of this, how have evolving viewer habits changed how you’re developing shows now, and maybe looking towards the future?

GIMPLE: Also, you could look at just how long the franchise has existed, and that changes things quite a bit. But let me just talk about the unbelievably positive part about it, which is that The Walking Dead series now exists alongside every show on television currently. There are new viewers that show up, people who aren’t old enough to watch the show, who have been starting it from the beginning, and they don’t watch it like we watched it week to week; they binge. But the show exists now in perpetuity. We used to have DVDs, that cool thing up on your shelf of just all those seasons. Now, everybody has them, and it’s really exciting to think that all the stuff we made is available for people to start right now. That’s, I think, one of the coolest parts.

There are a lot of hard parts to it. There’s a lot of things to figure out, and it’s even hard to measure things now, like how many people watch something, because there are so many different ways they watch it. I’m excited every time a younger person comes up to me and says they just started the show, and it happens a lot.

I’ll add one more layer to that, but I’ll stick with the positive because I prefer to stick with the positive. Is there anything about where things are heading that makes you even more enthusiastic for the future of this franchise?

GIMPLE: Well, the number one thing is I’m excited about the different stories we have to tell. Not just classic stuff, but stuff that’s completely different. That was always the idea, is doing just crazy experiments next to classic stuff, and I think we’re going to keep on doing that.

Norman Reedus Reveals the Secret to Playing Daryl Dixon for 15 Years

The Walking Dead star takes us back to the first season of the original series, and shares how he and the character have evolved.

Norman, I’ll come your way now with a question that kind of ties the beginning to where you’re at now with Daryl Dixon. I love asking this question, too, because I’m fascinated by the endless range of techniques an actor can lean on for their work. Can you tell me something that you’ve been doing since day one of playing Daryl, something that’s stuck with you every single step of the way, but then can you also tell me something about his storyline this season that called for something different that you’ve never done before?

REEDUS: What we do in this season is much different, especially the episode that we’re filming right at this moment. I kind of started this show not knowing what I wanted to do, and it was already with the cast of characters; they were already good friends. They had already done the Comic-Con that you went to. I wasn’t in the first Comic-Con. They had done press junkets, etc., and I didn’t quite know what I was going to do. I’d had a bunch of actors like, “Okay, new guy, what are you going to do?” And it’s the scene where they tell me they handcuffed my brother to the roof, right? I turn around, and all these people were staring at me, and I kind of went sideways on everybody. I felt like, “You don’t like me? I don’t like you either.” I just started him with a chip on his shoulder, and I just kind of ran with that. As the seasons progressed, I slowly would square up to you and talk to you face-to-face. I was either going to fight you like that or I was going to have a real conversation. But that’s something that stuck with me all along. Even now, if there’s a scene that makes me uncomfortable or makes Daryl not in his element, I kind of come sideways at you. I kind of go back to that.

What’s different? The episode we’re doing right now is exhausting for me, and it’s exhausting in a different way. I worked, I guess, the day before yesterday in Madrid, and I got punched in the face three times by a stunt guy and then got hit in the hand with a hammer, and then I got up at 4:00 a.m. and flew here. Those are physically exhausting, but the episode we’re doing now, Daryl goes inward. It’s a lot of Daryl inward. There’s a theme that is sort of introduced as we’re coming through the tunnel of the idea of home, and “What are we doing? All we do is fight and we run. Maybe there’s something better out there.” Now, in this season, and in [Season 3], we saw people making lemonade out of lemons. People have forgotten how to be positive and make it work for them, and it has a lot to do with the country of Spain and a lot of their mannerisms. They like to hug, they like to talk, family is important, and Daryl is kind of witnessing all that, right? And Carol is kind of doing a different version of witnessing that. But right now we’re going inward, and that’s very different. If you look at Daryl’s life, it’s been rough. It’s always been rough, and he’s kind of reexamining the world.

Release Date

2023 – 2026-00-00

Network

AMC

Showrunner

David Zabel

Franchise(s)

The Walking Dead

Mark and I really do enjoy touring homes together and this month held the Georgia Trust Expedition in Senoia, GA, a small town known for being in the film industry. Namely, The Walking Dead is their main attraction. There have been lots of movies filmed in and around Senoia, so while it’s known for that, it’s also known for Southern small town charm and historic homes are abundant. We enjoyed our day in Senoia and it ended up being a hot one. I didn’t want to intrude into privacy too much, so I only took a few shots mostly outside the homes and a few inside, so I hope that no one gets mad at me for the sharing. They put their homes on the tour, so hopefully a little social media won’t hurt anything. There were 17 homes/historic structures  on the tour and we made it to about 10 of them, before we pooped out from the heat and headed home.

It was such a pleasure to go back and tour a Southern Living Idea house, a historic home that was renovated by Southern Living back in 2012. I was invited then by Southern Living to come to a party they were throwing and that was the year after I moved back to Georgia, so I was so excited to get included in these festive events. Ballard Designs was there and that’s when I first got introduced to those ladies. I can’t believe that was all 13 years ago. I’ve had a whirlwind of events since then, but those are slowing down now as things have changed. If you want to see what the house looked like inside back then, just click that link above and there are 2 posts that I shared.

The house was sold after that to a couple and I think they are the original owners all this time. It was fun to see the changes they’ve made. That little community has really grown in these 13 years and so many things have been built around it.

Love the front porch and all the Americana.

This is the landing upstairs. I distinctly remember the Ikea kitchen in this house and it was still there, looking as good as ever. That is what made me really lean towards Ikea kitchen cabinets in my fixer upper house.

Back porch.

Looks like a cozy place to hang out.

They put in a pool that reminds me of ours and it looks great back here. I love that retractable awning and it was there when SL renovated the house, the new owners changed the cover. I would love to get one of these for our backyard patio over the sectional seating area. Maybe next year!

Backyard plants.

Another look at the patio and dining area with the awning. Isn’t it gorgeous? We met the homeover and enjoyed talking to him.

Travis House, 1906

We visited this cute Victorian cottage first thing and it was very nice.

More homes along the way that we didn’t tour, but I can’t resist a pretty house.

This one too. So many were ready for the 4th of July festivities and that made me buy bunting for our front porch.

Another home on the tour, this is a 1920’s house.

Another new home built in the historic district. I love these new homes made to look old, that’s what I would want if we were in the market for a new house, which we are not.

Another pretty home along the way.

This is a townhouse built in the historic district and these fit in nicely with the area.

It was the prettiest townhome I’ve ever seen. Wish I could have taken more pics inside, but again didn’t want to invade their privacy too much.

The outdoors has a pretty little pool area, perfect and secluded.

Front porch.

Landing area by the stairs.

Painting over the fireplace that I really loved. I came home and hunted down a landscape painting for my mantel and found a pretty one I’ll share later.

McKnight House, 1905

Loved this newel post. Built int he Neoclassical Revival style, first renovated in the mid-1980’s and the current owners have lived here since 2012. Lots of history in this house.

The backyard patio.

View from the second floor window.

Another home along the street.

From the front.

This decked out 1910 beauty is the Mann house and it’s said this house appeared in an episode of The Walking Dead. I’ve never watched that show, so can’t comment on it. It’s just not my type of show.

Bradenburg-Merrick-Hoff House, 1873 – Gothic Revival architecture

It had an expansive porch.

Davis-Tyre House, 1896

If I remember correctly, this house wasn’t occupied, but was empty during the tour.

The Bedenbaugh House, 1878 built in the Plantation style.

It was a very pretty and interesting historic home and renovations completed in 2023 added porches, an office suite, pool, and recreation court.

Pool area with a pickleball court behind.

They definitely had a party-ready backyard!

Very nice outdoor space.

Carmichael House, 1870, this Gothic Revival cottage houses the Senoia Area Historical Society and museum.

Private home of Steve & Leslee Maloy, built in 1894, believed to be the only example of Saddlebag architecture in Coweta County, which features two adjacent rooms connected with a central hallway.

This house was a treat to see and we really enjoyed the backyard. Steve had opened up the kickoff of the tour that morning at the church, sharing a bit of Senoia history.

We meandered in the backyard, marveling at all the beauty back here and then we ran into Steve, who urged us to go completely to the back of the property for a fun garden surprise. This lovely table was beautifully set.

Perfect for summer.

We passed the large detached garage and went past the fire pit of Adirondack chairs.

Nice setup!

Then we arrived at the back of the property and this charming garden, which he said his wife was responsible for. That’s her garden shed.

I just love shady gardens and how secluded and secret they feel.

Cute blue door on the she shed.

Lush Lenton Rose.

Such a cute area.

I’m glad he told us to walk further and check it all out.

It was a nice respite from the heat and then as we walked back to the street, past the garage, he offered to show Mark what was inside his garage. It was filled with vintage muscle cars and of course, that is right down Mark’s alley. They got to talk about their favorites, something that Mark loves to this day, talking about his teenage boyhood fast cars. That never leaves a man, does it?

And that’s a look at many of the Senoia historic homes on this year’s expedition. If you’re in Georgia and don’t know anything about the Georgia Trust, get on their mailing list for all the Rambles and Expeditions going on across the state. We’ve done a few of these and always enjoy them and they always have something going on in Georgia.

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