If you’ve read The Walking Dead comics, you know that sometimes the AMC series strays a little from Robert Kirkman’s original medium. In our exclusive interview with Gale Anne Hurd, she shared with us what her favorite changes were from page to screen.
Though The Walking Dead is amazing as a standalone television series, it draws most of its inspiration from Robert Kirkman’s comic series. The show usually carries the basic themes and storylines of the comics, but there are always a few changes along the way.
We asked Gale Anne Hurd what her favorite change was from Kirkman’s comics to the AMC series.
“I’d have to go with the introduction of Daryl and Merle Dixon, and their characters are fantastic, and the actors, Norman Reedus and Michael Rooker, who bring them to life. It’s hard to imagine the TV series without them.”
We couldn’t agree more. These characters have become so engrained in our minds as staple on The Walking Dead, though we didn’t see Merle for almost the entirety of season 2. Daryl is by far one of fans’ most favorite characters.
But The Walking Dead expands even beyond the comics and the television series. There have been a slew of products including vinyl figures of the characters, as well as award-winning video games and bestselling novels.
Hurd commented that the credit of The Walking Dead brand begins with the original comics, which now have over 100 issues published.
“I think what’s important is first of all the underlying comic is fantastic. It won the Eisner award, and it shows no signs of slowing down in any way, shape, or form.”
The Walking Dead is constantly growing in terms of the products related to it, but Hurd noted the importance of doing things right when adding something new to The Walking Dead name.
“I think it’s important that every time there’s something that is a part of The Walking Dead universe, that it’s really done right,” Hurd said. “Because if you’re going to branch out into all of these different arenas, you want to make sure that the quality is there and that the experience is a positive one for all the fans.”
As fans, we can definitely say that our experience with The Walking Dead, in all its forms, has been extremely positive.
What is your favorite change made from the comics on AMC’s ‘The Walking Dead’?
Author’s note: I’d like to apologize for providing misinformation in yesterday’s post. While interviewing Ms. Hurd, I misheard her when she said that Frank Darabont wrote a draft of The Walking Dead script for NBC. I mistakenly noted that she wrote an initial draft, when in fact it was Darabont. The previous article has been corrected.