The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Release Date, Cast, Trailer, Plot And More Details
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When "The Walking Dead" took its final bow in the winter of 2022, many of its characters ended up with satisfying endings. And yet there definitely remain a few unfinished loose ends that beg for completion. Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Maggie Greene (Lauren Cohan) are preparing to take Manhattan in "The Walking Dead: Dead City," while star-crossed lovers Michonne (Danai Gurira) and Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) remain separated by miles and powerful enemies alike — a fact that will be ameliorated during their own spin-off "Rick and Michonne." As for Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus), he had a much more subdued exit from the series. He tells close friend Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride) during a soul-searching heart-to-heart that he's heading out solo searching for something. He then leaves the Commonwealth behind to seek it out.
And thus, was a spin-off born. "The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon" will unsurprisingly track Daryl's further adventures as a Wolverine-like journeyman traveling solo through the untamed, unsettled, zombie-laden world — and through cities far away from Alexandria. As Carol points out when they part in "The Walking Dead," he's still looking for something he doesn't have. But it seems that "The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon" will try giving him at least a little time to find it.
When will The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon be released?
In May 2023, "Walking Dead" fans were treated to a behind-the-scenes video, letting everyone know "Daryl Dixon" is currently in production. Giving viewers brief overhead shots of a French city and of walkers roaming the streets, it also gave us short glimpses of Norman Reedus as Daryl, walking with purpose and determination along a deserted road with a gun in his grip.
And that French setting is 100% authentic, as the series is being shot in France. Some believe that fact is what kept Melissa McBride from initially signing onto the project. The series was originally scheduled to focus on both Carol and Daryl, but many speculated that the actress declined to make a long-term commitment to spending half of a calendar year overseas. Of course, it seems like McBride has changed her mind about all that, but more on that in a bit.
As for when we'll actually see "Daryl Dixon," a quick little teaser promised that we'll see the crossbow-wielding zombie killer in the fall of 2023. In July 2023, AMC announced that "The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon" would debut on both the cable channel and its AMC+ streaming service on September 10, 2023, at 9 p.m.
What is the plot of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon?
As established by the series finale of "The Walking Dead," Daryl has wandered far abroad from the Alexandria he once knew. Apparently, the show will take him even further afield than Negan and Maggie or any other member of the show's far-flung cast.
A blurb attached to the official in-production trailer released by AMC in May also has a brief plot description attached. It reads "Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) journeys across a broken but resilient France as he hopes to find a way back home." A longer blurb released by AMC in February 2023 as archived by Deadline explains that Daryl will wash up on France's shores and have absolutely no memory as to how he got there and why. He will find himself teaming up with a human revolutionary force trying to keep the spark of joy alive in the underground, which begins to foil his plot to get back to America immediately.
"It's going to be way different. The story's way different. The characters are way different. There's a different tone, there's different light, there's a different sound. It's a whole different vibe," Reedus told Entertainment Weekly in September 2022. Producer Greg Nicotero has said basically the same exact thing, telling Entertainment Weekly, "This is definitely not more of the same. Our show introduces new characters, new themes, and is an exciting extension of the genre that will delight people who love this kind of storytelling and crave more."
Nicotero also went on to explain the series very much stands on its own two feet. "This is probably the closest to a standalone show you will ever get," he explained. "The goal isn't just to see Daryl in exotic and new locations but to explore a wholly different world."
Who is starring in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon?
Unshockingly, Norman Reedus will head up the cast of "The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon" as his titular character. But seven other actors have been cast in pivotal roles which are slated to drive the series forward. Deadline reports that he will be joined by Clémence Poésy, Adam Nagaitis, Anne Charrier, Eriq Ebouaney, Laika Blanc Francard, Romain Levi, and Louis Puech Scigliuzz, the latter of whom will make his television debut on the series.
Poésy will play Isabelle, who becomes a companion to Daryl's journey. She heads a progressive religious group and will be forced to confront her checkered life before joining the sect during her time with Daryl. Nagaitis will play Quinn, an ex-pat from England whose dirty dealings mean he's a major face on the black market. He runs an illicit club called Demimonde, where Daryl will presumably hang out. Though their roles are not currently defined as of press time, Charrier plays Genet; Levi will essay the role of Codron; Francard will appear as Sylvie; Ebouaney pops in as Fallou; and Scigliuzzi will debut as Laurent, an adolescent and very important person in Isabelle's cause.
"The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon" entered production as a spinoff starring fan favorite duo Daryl and Dixon and Carol Peletier, but costar Melissa McBride opted to sit it out. In June 2023, "Walking Dead" star Jeffrey Dean Morgan tweeted a production photo of Reedus and McBride together — indicating that Carol will be part of the spinoff after all.
Who is producing and showrunning The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon?
Per Deadline, David Zabel will be showrunning "The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon." He assumed his position in April when Angela Kang changed her role within the project. Kang, who was set to run the series after serving as showrunner on "The Walking Dead" for multiple seasons, will serve solely as an executive producer. Apparently, Kang's exit also coincided with Melissa McBride's choice not to continue with the spin-off.
The rest of the series' executive production team includes Zabel, Scott M. Gimple, Norman Reedus, makeup and SFX guru and former "The Walking Dead" director and actor Greg Nicotero, Brian Bockrath, and Daniel Percival. There's no word currently as to who will be serving as the series' directing team, nor who has written the show's first batch of episodes. Viewers will likely have to wait until the show gets closer to being released before AMC divulges that information.
Is there a trailer for The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon?
During its presentation outlining its immediate plans for "The Walking Dead" franchise at the 2023 San Diego Comic-Con, AMC released the first official, full-length trailer for the upcoming spinoff "The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon." Expanding on and explaining the brief glimpses offered by previous teasers airing during "The Walking Dead: Dead City," the clip package explains just why and how lone wolf good-guy and "Walking Dead" legacy character Daryl Dixon wound up in Europe after leaving the Commonwealth in the former United States.
After floating in the ocean and winding up in France, Daryl Dixon meets a nun of sorts named Isabelle, to whom he explains that a "bad decision" brought him to the country; cue the montage of explosively violent and haunting actions. Isabelle explains that she came to lead what looks like a peaceful, religious, life-affirming collective thanks to "good decisions," and that Daryl actually arrived to fulfill a kind of prophecy — he's the foretold "Messenger," there to safely escort a boy named Laurent to is position as leader of a revival of humanity in the face of a determined, well-armed organization. That dangerous faction seems quote determined to stop Daryl Dixon, so the journey will be fraught with danger and violence as well as glimpses of the joys of living for which they're fighting as well as recognizable European landmarks, beautiful scenery, and hordes of the undead, of course.
Will there be a Season 2 of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon?
Throughout the summer 2023 run of one spinoff of "The Walking Dead," "The Walking Dead: Dead City," AMC has been doling out sneak peeks, glimpses, and teasers for another offshoot: "The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon." Featuring Norman Reedus as his beloved roguish titular character wandering post-zombie-takeover France, this latest entry in the extended and expanding "Walking Dead" universe doesn't premiere its first season until September 2023. Nevertheless, AMC evidently sees so much promise in the show, or realizes there's enough story to tell, that it made a commitment to keep it on the air for beyond just one season. At the 2023 San Diego Comic-Con, AMC Studios president of entertainment Dan McDermott announced that his network had already ordered a Season 2 of "The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon." "We're thrilled to double down on Daryl as we bring the apocalypse to France," he said.
Where to watch The Walking Dead
Looking to catch up on the larger "Walking Dead" universe in preparation of Daryl Dixon's spin-off series? You're in luck, as there are several ways to do so. Netflix currently has the most available seasons for streaming, with Seasons 1 through 11 up and ready to watch on the service. Pluto TV has the first six seasons for free with ad support on its on-demand service, though the show only seems to be available as a Spanish language program as of press time. Want to try the show incrementally? You can buy individual episodes for $1.99 apiece ($2.99 in HD) or whole seasons for $14.99 in SD at YouTube, Google Play, and Prime Video. Apple TV+ offers individual episodes and 11 full seasons, ranging from $14.99 to $39.99. Complete seasons of the entire series on Vudu begin at $9.99 in SD and $14.99 in HD, while Redbox has seasons 1 to 7 but offers whole seasons for $9.99 apiece.
Pluto also has a Walking Dead Universe streaming channel, which plays random episodes of "The Walking Dead," Fear the Walking Dead," and "The Walking Dead: World Beyond," all available 24/7. AMC+, the streaming sibling of "Walking Dead" network AMC, doesn't offer episodes on demand, but includes two feeds of The Walking Dead Channel, which play episodes around the clock.
With that, you'll have all the basic knowledge you need to watch Daryl take on Europe. And you won't need a passport to do it.