The Walking Dead: Why is there still no news on the Daryl Dixon spinoff?

Why is there still no word on the Daryl Dixon solo spinoff for The Walking Dead? It was meant to be the Daryl and Carol show back in September of 2020. There has been so much turmoil behind this spinoff, while others that were created long after are already filming or close to it.

Isle of the Dead is set to film this week. While the Rick and Michonne spinoff is set to film very soon. Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride) and Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) are the two characters that have stayed the longest on the show. One has to question why loyalty is not coming into play. So many things can happen before a show can start filming there are many questions surrounding this particular spinoff and what happened.

Why is there still no news on the Daryl Dixon Walking Dead spinoff?

The Walking Dead enthusiasts were over the moon when the news about the Carol and Daryl spinoff hit the press. Nobody could have imagined that such drama would take place for the spinoff fans were looking forward to the most. Creator Scott Gimple called Carol and Daryl the centerpiece of The Walking Dead, and moving forward they would very much be the heart of the show.

Months have passed since the news from AMC of McBride’s departure and unavailability to relocate to Europe. Reedus and Jeffrey Dean Morgan deemed it as Melissa also needing a break from the grueling schedule of The Walking Dead, and that she deserves it. Being unable to move forward in a show because of location is a very acceptable statement. Especially after filming 24 episodes.

What raised questions for fans was a TVLine exclusive that said they were told by AMC reps that the decision to jettison Carol was purely a creative one. Which rightfully should be questioned by long-time loyal fans for a spinoff that had so much excitement surrounding it.

There were no other statements from Reedus or McBride about it. Which could be due to their NDAs. What made matters worse was there was no compassion from AMC, the cast, or the crew behind it. It was supposed to be accepted with no heart behind it.

It’s no secret that once the news hit about McBride there was a lot of backlash from fans. People wanted answers. Everybody knows The Walking Dead fandom is filled with passionate fans. You have to wonder if it’s been quiet on the home front until fans can come to terms with it being just Daryl or if more has happened in the recent months.

We may never know what fully happened, or what led to McBride’s exit. But now we have to question why there is no news circling the newly reformed spinoff which is rumored to start filming in Europe this summer.

Many of us thought San Diego Comic-Con would be the perfect time to have a name for the untitled show. Fans believed there would have been further explanation from McBride or showrunner Angela Kang about the changes to the spinoff.

Kang was set to run the Carol and Daryl spinoff and now has become an executive producer for the Daryl series. There were no statements on why, but David Zabel is heading the spinoff now. Gimple had no words to say about the upcoming spinoff either. Only news for the Rick and Michonne spinoff was highlighted at SDCC.

Did Gimple and Kang want Rick Grimes and Michonne to have the glory this year with their final return with news on Daryl to come later on? It’s unclear. But here’s what we do know about the series so far.

The Walking Dead: Daryl spin-off plot speculation

Information on Daryl’s next adventure has been heavily tight lipped. However, Reedus did promise that it would be unlike anything else we have seen.

Many are speculating that his spinoff will tie into what we saw on TWD: World Beyond on super zombies in France. Though there is some curiosity as to why it was moved to France as World Beyond did not film there either though perhaps the decision was made to provide authenticity.

The only issue I see with that speculation is during the final episodes trailer the variant walkers from France are already in Alexandria. Is the plot perhaps to go find Rick? Well, it looks like Andrew Lincoln will be back in the states to film the Rick spinoff. Is it possibly a flashback that ties into both shows? We will see.

At The Walking Dead panel at SDCC, Reedus brought up that the story between Carol and Daryl is far from over. Kang and Gimple nodded in agreement. Does that mean there is still hope left alive for Caryl and for the spinoff to still continue in the future?

We all hope so because The Walking Dead universe is not the same without them. Reedus and McBride have shared amazing chemistry on screen from day one of the show, which carried over to their great friendship off the show. We would all be blessed to see more of it.

The way Reedus spoke was as if there’s still a long future ahead for them. It’s not the end, it’s not over. It wouldn’t be the first time Carol and Daryl have been apart, and each time they are it’s made them stronger. Will this finally be the time Daryl confesses what he wants?

Many fans have been waiting 12 years for him to express his feelings and what he wants his future to be. He’s an amazing friend, brother, protector, but everybody needs love once in their life.

Meanwhile, Reedus has been liking several tweets on Twitter about Carol and Daryl finally getting that endgame that they so deserve like this one.

Time will tell for what’s to come with this spinoff. We would love to see Daryl finish out his journey and come back to Carol, Rick, and Michonne and get to live out his happy ending as well. Could New Mexico still be lurking around the corner? The Daryl series is still set to premiere in 2023 behind Tales of the Dead and Isle of the dead on AMC+ and AMC.