Talk to most actors from AMC's The Walking Dead, and you will soon learn that they thoroughly enjoyed portraying their characters on the series. Several of the actors were cast in roles they hadn't auditioned for, which proved to be the right choice. Additionally, several of these roles introduced new characters not featured in Robert Kirkman's comic, on which the series is based.
Examples of these non-comic book characters include T-Dog (IronE Singleton), Ed Peletier (Adam Minarovich), Jadis (Pollyanna McIntosh), Beth (Emily Kinney), Enid (Katelyn Nacon), Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green), and the Dixon brothers, Merle and Daryl, portrayed by Michael Rooker and Norman Reedus. It isn't easy to imagine the series without many of these characters.
Reedus was recently interviewed by BAFTA to discuss his roles in TWD, Death Stranding, Blade II, Ballerina, The Boondock Saints, and more. The roll of the dice would determine which movie or TV role he discussed, and when he rolled Daryl Dixon, he was quick to remark that this role is "probably the most satisfying role I've ever played." This is evident in his portrayal, which continues in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon spinoff series.
He goes on to share insight into how he got the role: He auditioned for Merle, which Rooker was already cast for, but his audition was so impressive that the original showrunner, Frank Darabont, wrote Daryl for Reedus to portray.
The actor also discussed his first appearance on the series in episode 103, "Tell It to the Frogs," in which Daryl arrives on the scene with a massive chip on his shoulder. When he learns that his brother was left handcuffed on a roof in Atlanta, his true nature is revealed.
Reedus wasn't part of the season 1 press tour with the others, so he came on the scene as the "new guy." Initially, Daryl was supposed to be played as a racist, drug-using, mini-Merle, but Reedus wanted to change that. Instead, he portrayed Daryl as a man who grew up in that lifestyle but was embarrassed and ashamed of his upbringing and family.
He went on to share that when introduced, Daryl could tell everyone hated him, so he, in turn, hated them as well. He came with a chip on his shoulder, and when he talked to anyone, everything came from the side of his face. After his brother's death, Daryl begins to transform and eventually meets people head-on, becoming his own man.
Reedus shared that the creators consistently put Daryl in these hero moments, which he doesn't mind, but says, "I just don't want to know I'm the hero." He also shared that he gets the question, regarding his portrayal of Daryl, "When are you going to stop?" He believes he has to end it right, as he has dedicated 15 years of his life to this character and wants to give Daryl the ending he deserves.
Watch the entire interview with BAFTA below.
Reedus stars in the new John Wick spinoff film Ballerina, now in theaters. You can see him as Daryl in the upcoming third season of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon on AMC and AMC+ this fall.
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