This year, I got the honor of sitting in on The Walking Dead press conference at San Diego Comic Con. I’d like to share what we learned, and what the cast had the opportunity to discuss.
Anyone who watches the show, knows that Negan is a huge deal especially with the current season. In the current season he is free and has shed his shackles. During he conference, it was asked if Negan
will ever be the Negan of before again. Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who plays Negan, answered that he thinks Negan will always be Negan, even if it’s just embodied with his words and not his actions. He did mention that Negan is not excited to become “Negan” again. However, with the world that they live in, Negan will do what he has to do to survive. It was also mentioned hat the dynamic between Negan and Daryl is going to be focused on in Season 10, since the roles have reversed since Negan is no longer his prisoner.
There was also talk about still being able to be surprised, while playing a character for over so many years. Morgan discussed how this has been the longest he has appeared in a role and still doesn’t get bored of it to this day. The rest of the cast also agreed that their characters continue to grow and change, as they interact with constantly new characters and environments. Norman Reedus, who plays Daryl Dixon stated that he also admired that the show has beaten him up over the years, playing a character for so long, but still enjoys all of it.
An honorable mention was made to the Armed Forces by The Walking Dead, who is a big supporter of our military and troops in service. The Walking Dead producers were very proud that the show is shown to troops over seas for entertainment. Many cast members also mentioned they were proud, and had ties to the military by having family serve over the years in different branches. A really awesome thing, that we learned is that a lot of ex-military are brought on to the show as extras and Walkers. Working with wounded soldiers, they’d had even amputee soldiers on the show to play Walkers without limbs
It was also discussed that The Walking Dead has started having more female lead roles, and leaders. One example being that the main antagonist of the show Alpha, played by
Samantha Morton and Cailey Fleming, who plays Judith Grimes, who even as a child, plays such a powerful character. The studio mentioned with regards to the upcoming Season 10, ReFrame, a Los Angeles based association, noticed their efforts to create equality in the show, and as a result gave the new season their stamp of approval, and called the show’s new season “Gender Neutral”.
That wasn’t all that was mentioned about strong woman leaders, as they began to talk about the relationship of Michonne, played by Danai Gurira, and Judith in the show. With Rick gone (for now), the show focuses on a mother/daughter relationship between the two characters, and it gets stronger everyday. People at the conference mentioned and the cast agreed that she looks like Sarah Callies, who played Lori Grimes, and that she fits the role well. It was mentioned that there are perfect moments in film and TV where something fits perfect and its magic. Cailey wearing Ricks hat, and holding the sword, and her looks, it was just magic and came together. The two also get along very well and the chemistry confirms it. In Season 10, we will get to see the bond form and grow stronger.
Speaking of Denai, it was actually confirmed that Season 10 will be her last season on the show. A lot of the cast members said they aren’t really thinking about it, since we still have a while to go before that happens. They also mentioned that once your part of The Walking Dead family, your apart of it forever. Cast members said that they still speak, and see, most people that have left the show, or been killed.
Just in case you’re also a fan of the comic books, the last issue was presented last month in July, causing quite a shock to fans. There was no announcement and was abrupt. So what happens to the show now? Show runners confirmed that what’s great about the show and Robert Kirkman, is that they have the freedom to expand on the show. Characters are created in the show, that aren’t in the comic books. Characters are kept alive, or killed off, at different times then they occurred in the books. Fans should be put at ease that the show will continue for a long time, as it seems there will be more excitement to come.
We had an opportunity to ask our own question, and when given the chance, I asked if it was a shock losing so many characters at the finale of Season 9. The cast agreed that it’s always hard losing people from the show. The whole dynamic changes when someone is lost. Everything changes. However, as said before, once in The Walking Dead family, you always are. The characters lost, are still represented with the cast, and continue to effect the show and characters throughout the series. It was jokingly mentioned that after Andrew Lincoln left the show, the hotel staff would leave pictures of Lincoln in varies spots of the room because no character is ever forgotten.
Also during the convention, AMC released an awesome 4 MINUTE teaser trailer for Season 10 which you can catch below, wait until you see the last 30 seconds of it.
Season 10 Trailer
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