The Walking Dead’s Canceled Prequel Would Have Set Up Rick’s Story Even Better Than the Pilot Episode

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The TV show persistently outsmarts death, still commanding the small screen fifteen years following its premiere on AMC. Originally a modest production, it eventually transformed into one of the most triumphant television series ever, spanning eleven seasons and giving birth to numerous offshoots such as “Dead City,” “Daryl Dixon,” “The Ones Who Live,” and “Fear the Walking Dead.” Despite the vastness of the “Walking Dead” universe that has developed over the past fifteen years, its growth could have started earlier.

Approximately twelve years ago, the creator of “The Walking Dead”, Frank Darabont, initially envisioned a prequel series that delved into the onset of the zombie apocalypse prior to Rick Grimes’ involvement in the narrative. Regrettably, this prequel never materialized, but its proposed lead actor has shared insights about the storyline, and it effectively lays the foundation for Rick’s journey.

Sam Witwer Nearly Starred in a Prequel to The Walking Dead

The Star Wars Voice Actor Plays a Walker in the Pilot Episode–But There’s More to the Story

Approximately a dozen years back, Sam Witwer attended a fan gathering in 2011 (now accessible via video), where he shared details about his short-lived stint on The Walking Dead. A close friend of former showrunner Frank Darabont, Witwer made a brief appearance in the pilot episode of the post-apocalyptic AMC series, portraying a reanimated soldier who assaults Rick after he seeks refuge in an abandoned tank in Atlanta to evade a horde of walkers. However, Witwer disclosed that this episode was not intended to be his sole appearance within the larger Walking Dead universe. In fact, Darabont had planned to develop a prequel centered around Sam Witwer’s soldier as civilization crumbled during the zombie apocalypse. Speaking to fans, Witwer provided some insights into what this series might have entailed. Discussing his chat with Darabont, the actor recounted:

According to Witwer, AMC decided to scrap the prequel plans due to financial reasons, a decision he considered regrettable, given the potential of the concept. The cancellation was linked to disagreements between AMC and Darabont about the overall direction of “The Walking Dead.” Eventually, the studio dismissed Darabont from his role as showrunner, leading to a protracted legal dispute that continues to influence some people’s views on “The Walking Dead.” Many friends of the fired showrunner spoke up in support of him, including…

Regardless of his “Walking Dead” prequel not making it off the ground, Sam Witwer has thrived in his career. In 2011, he was the leading man in the SyFy remake of the British series, “Being Human.” This show ran for four seasons before its sudden termination, with Witwer among a vocal group of cast members who voiced disapproval of the channel’s decision. Witwer is also recognized for his work within the Star Wars universe. He provided the motion capture and voice for Starkiller in the video game series “The Force Unleashed.” Later, he collaborated with Lucasfilm executive Dave Filoni on various projects, including the development of the character’s upcoming animated spinoff.

Some Elements of Witwer’s Prequel Made Their Way Into The Walking Dead

Recent The Walking Dead Spinoffs Resurrected Witwer’s Cancelled Prequel

Despite Sam Witwer’s planned spinoff of “The Walking Dead” never being produced, elements from it were later incorporated into the franchise. The main series typically avoids showing the initial outbreak of the zombie apocalypse, focusing instead on Rick Grimes’ perspective as he awakens from a coma in a world already ravaged by the fall of the government. However, audiences eventually get to witness glimpses of this chaos within the military hierarchy through the miniseries. In this mini-series, Rick and Michonne encounter a civilization called the CRM, which is composed of what’s left of the U.S. military. This provides opportunities for flashbacks to the night everything went wrong, when the military was ordered to bomb major cities as a means to contain the spread of walkers (before it was known that humans were already infected). Eventually, “The Ones Who Live” portrays the military’s downfall, including pilots who defied orders, enabling key cities to survive into the apocalypse and eventually forming the CRM.

Even though it didn’t happen, imagining how Frank Darabont’s perspective on the military events would have enriched our understanding of “The Walking Dead” world by the pilot episode is intriguing. By delving deeper into this catastrophe through a single soldier’s eyes, we could have witnessed a more personal account, which was missing in “The Ones Who Live.” This prequel would have been particularly significant as it would have provided a direct link to Rick Grimes’ story, leading up to his fateful encounter in the tank. Unfortunately, AMC decided against this idea, and as Sam Witwer stated, they did so in an attempt to save some money. However, given the remarkable success of the “Walking Dead” franchise since then, it seems plausible that AMC might have second thoughts about not expanding their universe earlier.

It seems that the grand prequel to “The Walking Dead” may never come to life, but don’t fret! There’s still a lot of post-apocalyptic excitement in store for fans. You can tune in every Sunday at 9 pm to catch new episodes of “The Walking Dead: Dead City.” And if you’re a Daryl Dixon fan, get ready because the third season of his storyline will be back this year!

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2025-06-05 02:20