Two years ago Michael James Shaw joined The Walking Dead universe
By Renee Hansen
Two years ago, on March 1, Michael James Shaw took to social media to announce he would be joining The Walking Dead series as the general of the Commonwealth, Mercer. Fans of the comic book story were ecstatic at the announcement as someone of Shaw’s stature would do this role justice. And did he ever.
Mercer would be introduced in the first episode of the series’ final season, “Acheron: Part 1.” He looked like he walked directly from the comic page, and fans were thrilled. Featured in the detainment center interviews for Ezekiel (Khary Payton), Yumiko (Eleanor Matsuura), Eugene (Josh McDermitt), and Princess (Paola Lázaro), he looked quite intimidating.
Shaw would be a welcome addition to the series and the storyline. Mercer was a leader in the Commonwealth, a new community introduced in the final season of the series that was progressive and offered many amenities our survivors hadn’t seen since before the outbreak.
Things would quickly unravel to show that not everything was as good as it appeared on the outside at the Commonwealth, and Mercer would have to choose to remain loyal to Governor Milton (Laila Robins) or come alongside the resistance and take over the community.
He would choose the resistance, and by the end of the series, Ezekiel would take over as governer with Mercer at his side as lieutenant governor.
What else does Michael James Shaw star in?
Shaw’s best-known characters add him to the long list of Walking Dead actors who have portrayed roles in the MCU. He played Corvus Glaive in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. He is also well known for his roles as Aiden Shaw in Blood & Treasure and as Agent Mike in Limitless, both series stream on Paramount+.
He has starred in many memorable roles throughout his career, including Bull, Blue Bloods, Roots, and Constantine. He also starred in an uncredited role in The Wire, a series in which fellow Walking Dead actors Seth Gilliam, Chad L. Coleman, and Lawrence Gilliard Jr. star.
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