Zombies, gore, and so much more await anyone who watches The Walking Dead, alongside a talented cast with so much to offer. But for me, I’ve always looked at the cast, seen how well they fight zombies, and wondered, “Who would be the best to lead a horror movie?”
Horror, in general, is one of those genres with so much creativity that any one of these actors could easily lead it. The Walking Dead actor Austin Abrams has proved his horror talent in several movies, including 2025’s Weapons and more recently 2026’s Resident Evil, so why not any of these picks next?
Norman Reedus
This is a bit of a cheat code, but I’d love to see Norman Reedus lead a horror movie, and honestly, I think I’m getting that wish. But I think, in all honesty, I’d want to see him lead a lot of horror films even after the one that’s in the works.
It’s already been announced that Reedus will be in the cast of an upcoming horror mystery film, Pendulum, but there’s a difference between being in the cast and fully leading the film. And personally, he has that ability to pull it off. He’s been Daryl in The Walking Dead universe for a decade and a half now. Zombies is practically his middle name.
But I could easily see him taking on a horror role, given how well he works in this genre, maybe a gore-heavy one or a more psychological one.
Danai Gurira
Danai Gurira has always been my queen, and her role as Michonne has certified her as an absolute slayer, which makes her perfect for a slasher horror film.
Gurira is a talented actress in any genre; don’t get me wrong. She's appeared in several other movies with nothing to do with fighting or swordwork, like All Eyez on Me, Mother of George, and more. But if you’ve seen her fight in both The Walking Dead and in the Black Panther films, you’ll know that’s where she shines. I would love to see her as a final girl in something.
Steven Yeun
Okay, so Steven Yeun has been in a horror movie before — Jordan Peele’s Nope. But he didn’t necessarily lead the movie. He co-leads. And he actually doesn’t even get that much screentime.
But this man can act. There’s a reason he’s the only one on this list with an Emmy Award win. Not to say everyone else isn’t amazing, but Yeun has been on another level for a while, and in a horror movie, he'd be off the charts. One where he full-on leads and fights demons. Or maybe one about ghosts.
Andrew Lincoln
Andrew Lincoln would be phenomenal in a psychological horror film. Why? Because I’ve at least seen him in something that was horror that has nothing to do with Rick Grimes.
Lincoln appeared in the Netflix series Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities. The show was created by horror legend Guillermo del Toro and featured the actor in the episode “The Murmuring,” which deals with the horror of what happens in someone’s life and the manifestation of grief.
He was fantastic in it, alongside his co-star, Essie Davis. Honestly, I wish we got another season of this show because every anthology episode was well curated. But this episode made me realize how great Lincoln is in these roles.
Lincoln hasn’t done many movies since taking on The Walking Dead. He’s mainly stuck to television. But it'd be amazing if he ever did a horror movie.
Jon Bernthal
I mean, there’s something about Jon Bernthal that makes me snicker every time I look at him; he seems like the perfect guy for a horror-comedy or horror-action. He has that attitude and that look in his eyes, where he would take no issue with slamming a knife into a monster or taking down a demon. And he’d probably make the audience laugh while doing it.
That’s not to say Bernthal isn’t also a great serious actor. His time as Shane on the show proved how talented he was as his breakout role. But he’s only gone on to show his range in movies like The Odyssey, The Amateur, The Wolf of Wall Street, and even Spider-Man: Brand New Day. He has enough talent to easily work in a horror film, too.
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