Here’s Why Melissa McBride Exited ‘The Walking Dead’ Spin-Off Co-Starring Norman Reedus

An AMC spokesperson explained McBride's reason for leaving the series.

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Melissa McBride has exited a planned The Walking Dead spin-off series, which would have been centered on Carol Peletier and Daryl Dixon, due to logistical issues with the production.

Melissa McBride and Norman Reedus, who play Carol Peletier and Daryl Dixon, are the only remaining original cast members in AMC’s The Walking Dead, which will conclude later this year. After the series finishes, the McBride and Reedus were due to star in a spin-off revolving around their characters. The project was to be one of several spin-offs planned to release after The Walking Dead concluded, with an anthology series titled Tales of the Walking Dead also in the works.

Many fans will be disappointed to hear Melissa McBride is leaving the series, but an AMC spokesperson explained that it had become “logisitically untenable” for the actress, due to the long-term commitment to filming in Europe. Speaking to TVLine, the spokesperson said:

“Melissa McBride has given life to one of the most interesting, real, human and popular characters in The Walking Dead Universe. Unfortunately, she is no longer able to participate in the previously announced spinoff focused on the Daryl Dixon and Carol Peletier characters, which will be set and filmed in Europe this summer and premiere next year. Relocating to Europe became logistically untenable for Melissa at this time. We know fans will be disappointed by this news, but The Walking Dead Universe continues to grow and expand in interesting ways and we very much hope to see Carol again in the near future.”

The Walking Dead showrunner, Angela Kang, had previously said of the series “I could not be more excited to be working with Scott Gimple and AMC to develop a new series for Daryl and Carol. Working with Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride has been a highlight of my career, and I’m thrilled that we get to keep telling stories together.” The series is still expected to go ahead, focusing solely on Reedus’ Daryl Dixon.

The final part of The Walking Dead‘s final season is due to air later this year.

The Walking Dead stars Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride, Danai Gurira, Josh McDermitt, Christian Serratos, Seth Gilliam, Ross Marquand, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Khary Payton, Cooper Andrews, Callan McAuliffe, Nadia Hilker, Eleanor Matsuura, Lauren Ridloff, Cailey Fleming, Cassady McClincy, Ryan Hurst, and Samantha Morton as Alpha.

Stay tuned to Heroic Hollywood for the latest news on AMC’s The Walking Dead, and make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more video content in the future!

Source: TVLine