Before they hit up the big stage at New York Comic Con, the cast and crew of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol spent some time chatting with invited press at a press conference, including Comic Book Club.
In attendance at the panel were David Zabel (Showrunner), Greg Nicotero(Executive Producer, Director), Norman Reedus (Daryl Dixon, Executive Producer), Melissa McBride (Carol Peletier, Executive Producer), and Louis Puech Scigliuzzi (Laurent Carriere).
Things kicked off talking about this past week’s killer one-take fight scene. “We have a really good stunt coordinator,” Reedus said. “I think I conked a guy in the head a bunch of times.”
“It was super cool, and I was concerned it was going to take too much time,” Zabel added. Mainly, he called the prep for it, with Reedus learning the moves, the most time-consuming part. However, the actual shooting didn’t take too much time, and ultimately it was happy with how it worked.
Moving on to talk about what keeps them coming back, McBride said, “I feel like I’m surprised all the time… This material is still fresh, and we’re still learning about these characters.”
“The original show was about Rick,” Reedus added. “And then you had the other characters around Rick. But these two characters always checked in on each other… We’ve always had this connection that’s been very honest… The relationship feels earned. There are moments where the characters, who know each other, it resonates in a different way.”
In particular, Reedus noted liking the humor between Daryl and Carol. “The funny scenes are… I was going to say Carol Burnett, but it’s I Love Lucy. Hidden little smirks,” Reedus said, smiling.
The conversation then turned to casting Scigliuzzi, with Reedus saying, “When he auditioned, I knew, right for the start I wanted him,” He was so worldly already. So different. he was a kid raised in the zombie apocalypse, having never been outside the walls. There’s a curiosity about him.”
Reedus and Zabel then told a story about telling Scigliuzzi he was doing a good job on set, and Scigliuzzi said back, “you are too.”
Zabel continued that part of the interesting development of Laurent was that Daryl is giving a positive father figure for him, something that Daryl never had. He added that becomes even more pronounced in Season 2.
Moving on again, Nicotero talked about the new walkers on the show, with the producer shouting out Season 1’s arena scene. “Daryl spent 12 years fighting walkers, and now there’s a new threat,” Nicotero said. “He doesn’t know how to fight them.”
“The trick was how to make the walkers scary,” added Zabel. “They’ve lived with them for 12 years in this universe.” He continued to explain that the goal wasn’t to break the rules of the world but to extend them.
Speaking of extending things, what’s next in Daryl Dixon? They’re headed to Spain in Season 3, so what about beyond?
“Well, we have plans, and ideas for where we want to, our goal,” Zabel said, but added that it depends on how long the show goes, as well as the overall future of the Walking Dead universe. “We have lots of ideas of places to visit.”
Nicotero noted that taking the show abroad has really reminded them how people get excited about TWD. “To take it to another country where people respond to the show very well… The first time we went on set with the zombies, the crew applauded.”
They contrasted that with the Georgia set, where the same walkers would be in different makeup, and Norman wouldn’t recognize them when they would say hello. “You’ve killed me 35 times,” quipped Reedus.
Nicotero talked further about filming abroad, explaining that the shooting style is very different in Europe than in America. In Georgia, the camera was very steady, versus the swooping camera shots they used in the seasons of Daryl Dixon. “Scott Gimple never liked when the camera moved,” said Nicotero. “I directed 40 episodes of The Walking Dead, but getting a chance to be there with a whole new team, it’s different and exciting. It’s a whole new thing.”
And wrapping things up, Zabel was asked if Season 3 will have a new subtitle.
“We don’t know that,” Zabel said. “Probably not, because I’ve already taken too much flack for having too many titles.”
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon airs Sundays at 9/8c on AMC.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol Season 2 Premiere Dates And Episode Guide:
New episodes of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon premiere on Sundays on AMC and AMC+. The episodes premiere at 3 am ET / 12 am PT on AMC+, and 9 pm ET on AMC.
Here’s the full list of episodes in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 2 with premiere dates:
- Sunday, September 29, 2024: The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, Season 2, Episode 1 – “The Book of Carol: La gentillesse des étrangers”
- Sunday, October 6, 2024: The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, Season 2, Episode 2 – “The Book of Carol: Moulin Rouge”
- Sunday, October 13, 2024: The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, Season 2, Episode 3 – “The Book of Carol: L’Invisible”
- Sunday, October 20, 2024: The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, Season 2, Episode 4 – “The Book of Carol: La Paradis Pour Toi”
- Sunday, October 27, 2024: The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, Season 2, Episode 5 – “The Book of Carol: Vouloir, C’est Pouvoir”
- Sunday, November 3, 2024: The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, Season 2, Episode 6 – “The Book of Carol: Au Revoir Les Enfants” *Season Finale*
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