After much speculation, The Walking Dead’s Chief Content Officer Scott Gimple has finally shared some details about the upcoming Norman Reedus-led spin-off series focusing on fan-favorite character Daryl. Originally announced as being a show that would be headed up by Reedus and TWD co-star Melissa McBride, the latter dropped out of the production before cameras had even started rolling due to location issues, meaning that the show will go on as a solo spin-off, but we now know a little more about where and when the series will be set, which links into a big fan theory.
As a continuation of Daryl’s story from the end of The Walking Dead, the as-yet-untitled series will see the apocalypse survivor traveling from the U.S. to Europe, and specifically France, where the post-credit scene of The Walking Dead: World Beyond took place. As part of the Talking Dead: The Walking Dead Universe Preview 2022, Gimple laid out some of what can be expected when the series premieres next year. He said:
"The Daryl spinoff takes place in France. [The World Beyond coda] is a bit of a tease of some of the things Daryl is going to face. Daryl is a fish out of water to start with. If Daryl finds himself with new people, he's a fish out of water. In France, in a country that's going through the apocalypse, [it's] an entirely different thing. He finds himself having to reinvent himself again, having to find himself again, and also, not being with — probably — the only people in the world he's comfortable with."
Carol and Daryl’s Story Will Continue In The Walking Dead Universe
Despite Melissa McBride having to pull out of the spin-off series due to filming being “logistically untenable,” Norman Reedus made it clear during his recent appearance at San Diego Comic-Con that the story between Carol and Daryl has more to tell, commenting that McBride could certainly be back after “some time off.” When McBride left the production, AMC Network issued a statement to the same effect, which read:
"Melissa McBride has given life to one of the most interesting, real, human and popular characters in The Walking Dead Universe. Unfortunately, she is no longer able to participate in the previously announced spin-off focused on the Daryl Dixon and Carol Peletier characters, which will be set and filmed in Europe this summer and premiere next year. Relocating to Europe became logistically untenable for Melissa at this time. We know fans will be disappointed by this news, but The Walking Dead Universe continues to grow and expand in interesting ways and we very much hope to see Carol again in the near future."
The Daryl spin-off is just one of several planned extensions of the Walking Dead Universe, with others including the newly announced Rick Grimes and Michonne spin-off and the Maggie and Negan spin-off series Isle of the Dead, which recently commenced filming and will also premier in 2023. The final part of The Walking Dead’s 11th season kicks off on AMC on October 2.