Melissa McBride will no longer be a part of the upcoming Carol and Daryl 'The Walking Dead' spinoff due to filming overseas
Jackson Lee Davis/AMC
- Melissa McBride has exited the upcoming "Carol and Daryl" "The Walking Dead" spinoff.
- According to a statement from AMC, McBride departed the series due to a new filming location.
- The network hopes that McBride's fan-favorite character will be seen again "in the near future."
The untitled "Carol and Daryl" "Walking Dead" spinoff is moving forward without Carol.
AMC confirmed to Insider in a statement Wednesday that Melissa McBride is departing the upcoming spinoff, which will now be set and filmed in Europe.
Accordng to AMC, "relocating to Europe became logistically untenable for Melissa at this time."
Here's the full statement from AMC:
"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."
Earlier this month, fans speculated on social media that McBride may be departing the series over filming locations for the spinoff changing.
The series is now expected to center around Norman Reedus' character, Daryl Dixon. McBride and Reedus' characters are two of the few remaining characters on "The Walking Dead" from its first season.
The "Carol and Daryl" series was first announced in September 2020.
Gene Page/AMC
First announced in September 2020, the "untitled Carol and Daryl" spinoff was announced as a series that would further explore the deep bond of these two friends.
At the time the series was announced, Reedus said in a statement shared with Insider, "Daryl's relationship with Carol has always been my favorite relationship on the show (sorry Rick). I love the way these characters interact and relate to each other on so many levels and can't wait to see where their ride goes from here."
"TWD" showrunner Angela Kang was set to lead on the "Carol and Daryl" spinoff. Now that it will film overseas, it's no longer clear whether or not Kang will oversee the project.
Earlier this month, fans noticed that Kang recently removed the series from her Twitter bio.
—tom (@cocosrosita) April 15, 2022
When Insider asked Kang in early April if filming was starting on the "Carol and Daryl" spinoff or if she was receiving a little break, Kang said, "I can't get into anything 'TWDU' related. I'm super focused on finishing out ['The Walking Dead'], but very happy that the universe continues to grow and I've gotta leave it at that. But, I appreciate you've gotta ask the question."
The untitled "Daryl" spinoff, which now feels even more like an extension of Reedus' "Ride With Norman Reedus" series, is one of five "TWD" spinoffs. AMC is also premiering "Isle of the Dead," a series starring Lauren Cohan and Jeffrey Dean Morgan's characters next year. It's set to start filming in New York City later this year.
"The Walking Dead" is currently airing its final, 11th season. The series final eight episodes will debut in the fall.
You can follow our ongoing "TWD" coverage here.
More to come...