Interview with Michael Rooker at Walker Stalker Chicago / Fan Fest 2018
By Adam Carlson
Michael Rooker is one tough nut to crack, but we gave it a whirl during an interview at Walker Stalker Con / Heroes and Villains Fan Fest 2018 in Chicago!
Michael Rooker is one of a kind. Known for his blunt honesty and straight-forward nature, sometimes it can be tough to get new information out of the established actor, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t try.
At Walker Stalker Con / Fan Fest 2018 in Chicago, we were lucky enough to sit down with the actor who played Merle Dixon on The Walking Dead to talk about a wide variety of his acting jobs over the years.
Here is Undead Walking’s interview with Michael Rooker at Walker Stalker / Fan Fest 2018 as hosted on the official YouTube channel of Undead Talking:
First off, there is a tone that needs to be set for the interview. For those confused as to why he is holding his phone and wearing the earbuds, that is because when I asked if it was okay if I recorded him, he asked if it was okay to record me.
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After a little back and forth, the interview started. After introductions and an awkward silence, we got to discussing Merle. Topics included why people liked Merle even though he was an awful guy and where his allegiance would stand if the character were alive today.
The topic then shifted to FanSided’s Fandom 250, where both The Walking Dead and The Marvel Universe were included on the 2017 list. I also tried to find out what he’s a big fan of these days.
Next, it would be wrong to be in Chicago without talking about The Driving Dead. This series of videos available on YouTube by the Illinois Department of Transportation is a safety video hidden in a story of the apocalypse, and something fans should check out if they haven’t already.
Finally, I asked him about transitioning from cult films like Mallrats and Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer to joining blockbuster movies and shows like The Walking Dead and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.
He ended by letting us know about a project called A Good Man is Hard to Find that he is working on that he is hoping to find a home for.
Next: Interview with Katelyn Nacon at Walker Stalker Chicago 2018
Full disclosure is that I’m a huge fan of Michael Rooker. Speaking with him when the camera was off and shaking his hand were highlights of my day. Huge thanks to Mr. Rooker and Walker Stalker Con / Heroes and Villains Fan Fest 2018 for making this happen in Chicago.