Norman Reedus initially concerned about ‘Walking Dead’ spinoff ‘I don’t know if I could do 14 years of the same show’

Fans of The Walking Dead said an emotional goodbye to the series on November 20, 2022, and the moment was the definition of bittersweet. There were tearful see-you-laters to characters we’d grown to love, and doors closing on some of our most beloved storylines, but there was a renewed sense of promise in that we’d see some of our favorite actors and actresses fighting against the undead once again.

Norman Reedus, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Lauren Cohan, Andrew Lincoln, and Danai Gurira will all be embracing new chapters in the Walking Dead universe, and they’re going to take us on journeys, unlike anything we’ve ever experienced. The very idea that the stories are new was a drawing point for Reedus, who wowed the team during his interview so much that a character was explicitly crafted for him.

Reedus tells Entertainment Tonight that when he was approached for a Walking Dead spinoff, he was hesitant about moving forward with it because he wasn’t sure he could commit to continuing to tell the story for well over a decade. The cast and crew of The Walking Dead have always raved about working together, becoming a family, and having the most incredible fan base in the world, but Reedus was looking forward to a future that looked a little different.

“When they approached me about a spin-off I was like, ‘I don’t know if I could do 14 years of the same show,’ although I did love that show, but they allowed me to make a righthand turn and head in a different direction. I got to kind of do what I wanted to do in a way that I wanted to do it with the people involved.” 

So what exactly should fans expect from the upcoming Daryl spinoff? It’s going to be a layered event, something unlike what we’ve experienced as a Walking Dead family before. However, Daryl is still going to be himself, all gritty and fantastic — oh, and the undead will still pose a big problem.

“It’s kind of a reset for me. Everything kind of breathes in a romantic way. We have the backdrop of France, we have the Catacombs, the Eiffel Tower. … The whole vibe is different.”

Continuing the same topic of conversation, Reedus hits again on the point that the series is something unique and beautiful; it’s all-encompassing and mesmerizing, it’s emotionally charged in a way fans of the survival series haven’t experienced before. It’s also unique in the sense that his spinoff is happening in a realm that fans are unfamiliar with, too — we’re getting a fresh look at our beloved characters as they face new situations, hardships, and even some wins.

“A lot of the story is me trying to figure out what’s happening and how to get out of here. There’s a lot going on, but it’s super poetic, it’s super beautiful. It’s not a repeat of the same show at all.” 

Of course, The Walking Dead fans know that Daryl isn’t the only character getting his own spinoff. Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who plays Negan, will also explore the next chapter of his character’s story — and with an unlikely ally: Lauren Cohan’s Maggie.

“Dead City is going to pick up a couple years after we last saw the gang with the Walking Dead. Maggie tracks Negan down, she needs his help — at least that’s the story she’s giving him. We find ourselves in need of going to Manhattan and I think New York City as their backdrop in this world is going to be really special.” 

While Morgan and Reedus were two of the most iconic enemies on screen, they found a stable ground to stand upon as the core series drew to a close. In their personal lives, however, they’ve always had the kind of bond in which they consider each other family; they’re brothers, and Morgan shared some snaps from the Walking Dead Universe over the weekend that melted our very hearts.

The friends turned family got emotional upon being in the same room together again, something they might have grown used to at some point, but a feeling they treasure more than ever now. They no longer spend months of a year together, filming scenes of a world overrun with the undead, so when they’re together now — they realize what a privilege that truly is.

Between Reedus’ beautiful and poetic series on the horizon, to the drama Morgan and Cohan will bring to the table, we can’t wait to see what’s next in The Walking Dead universe chapters kicking off later this year.