Key Takeaways:
• Jeffrey Dean Morgan speaks about the end of ‘The Walking Dead’ after an 11-season run.
• The crew and cast members were caught off-guard by this decision.
• The decision to wrap the series came in the midst of the pandemic.
• The series finale was a twist especially for Andrew Lincoln’s fans who were hopeful for Rick Grime’s return.
• Jeffrey Dean Morgan to reprise his role in the spinoff, ‘The Walking Dead: Dead City’.
Series’ Unexpected Conclusion
It’s seldom that the cast and crew of a popular series like ‘The Walking Dead’ are uninformed about the future course of the show. In a recent interview, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, a star of the show, revealed that the series’ ending after the 11th season came as a surprise to everyone involved.
‘It Took Everybody by Surprise’
‘The Walking Dead’ has been a household name since its inception in 2010, transforming the iconic comic book series into a live-action franchise. Initially charting the journey of a sheriff’s deputy (Andrew Lincoln) leading a group of survivors in a zombie-infested world, the narrative constantly evolved, introducing and focusing on other major characters as it proceeded.
However, in September 2020, AMC announced that the 11th season would be the show’s last, catching its numerous fans off-guard. At the heart of this surprise was Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who remarked in an interview with Collider about the stunning revelation.
According to Morgan, the revelation came out of nowhere, catching everyone, from the cast, crew, and even the production team, by surprise. The series was originally supposed to continue beyond the 11th season, but the decision marked an unexpected pivot, forcing the team to rethink the narrative and conclude the story.
Decline in Ratings, A Possible Reason for the End
Many believe that the decision to end the series was influenced by a noticeable decline in ratings following the departure of Andrew Lincoln’s character, Rick Grimes.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan Steps Into the ‘Walking Dead’ Spinoff
Known for his portrayal of Negan, the sociopathic leader of the Saviors, Morgan is among the characters introduced later in the series. With Grime’s departure in the ninth season, Negan became increasingly important, solidifying his position as one of the show’s most popular characters.
Interestingly, Morgan never expected to reprise his role after the series wrapped up. In a discussion with Entertainment Weekly, he revealed his initial skepticism about continuing with the role of Negan.
Despite these reservations, Morgan reprised his role in the spinoff series “The Walking Dead: Dead City.” He described the decision as tough, but the script was so impassioned and compelling that walking away was not an option.
“The Walking Dead: Dead City,” revolves around Negan and Maggie in their journey through a post-apocalyptic Manhattan searching for Maggie’s son, Hershel. Meanwhile, “The Walking Dead” can be streamed currently on Netflix, and the spinoff on AMC+.
In conclusion, the unexpected winding up of ‘The Walking Dead’ series underlines the unpredictable nature of the entertainment industry, where series can drastically pivot even without the cast or crew’s knowledge. One cloud’s silver lining, however, is Morgan’s continuation as a central character in its spin-off, ‘The Walking Dead: Dead City.’
