Co-creator of The Walking Dead, Robert Kirkman, has finally given a definitive response on whether or not fan-favorite character Daryl Dixon (played by Norman Reedus on the TV series) will be making his way into the comics someday.
And it’s a resounding no.
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Speaking at Comic-Con International in San Diego, Kirkman said on The Walking Dead panel that he enjoys the separation of the comics and AMC’s television show, and this helps to keep a character like Daryl so unique and fresh for folks who don’t want repetitive or predictive storylines.
“I want there to be something unique about every iteration of The Walking Dead,” he said. “So you’re not watching the same story over and over and over again.”
Fans have long clamored for the archer to transition to the books after his popularity rose on the small screen as Rick Grimes’ right-hand man. So much so that with Andrew Lincoln departing the show in Season 9, Reedus’ heroic figure will become the new face of the TV series and the man leading the charge against the zombie apocalypse.
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Daryl has been on the show since it debuted and is one of the few faces that didn’t exist in the Image Comics series, which always left fans guessing if he’d be killed off at some point. However, the affinity for him grew so much that when speculation began as to who Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) would kill when he debuted, fans formed the #IfDarylDiesWeRiot online movement.
The Walking Dead stars Andrew Lincoln (for now) as Rick Grimes, Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon, Lauren Cohan (also for now) as Maggie Rhee, Danai Gurira as Michonne, Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier, Lennie James as Morgan Jones, Alanna Masterson as Tara Chambler, Josh McDermitt as Eugene Porter, Christian Serratos as Rosita Espinosa, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan. The series is expected to return on AMC for its ninth season in October, with an official date to be announced later this month at Comic-Con International in San Diego.