Category Archives: Interviews

The Walking Dead Movie a Possibility?

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There have been many rumours floating around online lately at the possibility of a Walking Dead Movie and these rumours were made all the more interesting thanks to a recent interview with Chad Coleman who plays Tyreese on the show.

Coleman mentioned in an interview with MTV Geek that a Walking Dead Movie would catch on like wildfire. Not only does he think it could happen, but he thinks it should and will happen. You can clearly see how enthusiastic he is in the interview below.

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Geek: Event Coverage, Full Episodes

Do you think a Walking Dead Movie would be a good idea? Or are you happy enough to continue watching the TV Show and reading the comics?  Leave your thoughts and comments below.

Kirkman Answers Fan Questions – Part 1 & 2

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TWD-S3-Robert-Kirkman-Fan-Interview-325In Part 1 of Robert Kirkman‘s fan chat, The Walking Dead Executive Producer and Writer talks about killing off characters and the eerie similarities between The Walking Dead and a kid’s movie.

Q: What was the reasoning behind having Laurie Holden’s character killed in the Season 3 Finale? –Cancerdog

A: We were really working on the Woodbury arc, and it sort of played out that it made sense. The only thing that would make Rick accept the remainder of Woodbury would be something as tragic as seeing Andrea lose her life. The unfortunate thing about all these deaths is that right now the audience is saying, “Oh my God, why did you kill Andrea?” We understand that’s an emotional thing — it’s supposed to be — but there’s a lot of stuff in Season 4 that comes from that moment. Once the viewer sees the next season, they’ll know why we did it.

Q: How do you let the actors know their number is up? And do they get any say on the amount of blood spilled? –Ani Munoz

A: They get as much input into their death scene as any actor does in any scene. It’s a back and forth, and there are a lot of discussions that go between writers and directors and actors. As far as when they find out that they’re dying, usually it’s a call before the script comes out. It’s very late in the process. We try to be really mindful of the actor’s process — we don’t want an actor to play a scene differently because they know they’re going to die.

Q: With Rick bringing more people back to the prison, will this is some way complicate his relationship with Carl? –Diana M Sawyer

A: We’ll have to find out in Season 4, but I will say that the dynamic between Rick and Carl is going to be a central focus of the season, and it is going to change in some startling and interesting ways.

Q: Can the group survive if something happens to Rick? –Jamal Montgomery

A: Yes, absolutely. We’ve been saying that no one is safe on this show, and I wouldn’t rule out seeing the death of Rick Grimes at almost any point. We really like to keep people guessing, and I could definitely see some interesting stories coming from that. While Rick has been a pretty solid leader, he’s definitely made his share of mistakes. I think seeing Daryl or Maggie or Glenn picking up a larger leadership role in the group could pose some interesting story possibilities.

Q: Can you talk more about the casting process for the show? –Always Walking Dead

A: We work with our casting agent and go over a wide range of people and tons of footage. A lot of people remark on how similar our cast is to characters in the comic book series, and it is kind of a strange coincidence that as we’re looking for the best actors for the role, sometimes we’ll come upon someone who looks unusually like the way they’ve been drawn in the comic book.

Q: Robert, will we see Morgan again? –TonyinKC

A: Well, all I can really say is that the guy’s not dead, and Rick definitely knows where he is. The door is always open for an eventual return of Morgan. When or how that will happen will have to remain a mystery for now, but I think it’s definitely a possibility.

Q: There’s recently been a meme comparing The Walking Dead to Toy Story. Be honest: how much did Toy Story inspire your work? –Moot_Lagoon

A: It’s hilarious. There are definitely some eerie similarities. Toy Story is a fantastic piece of work, and it’s flattering to be compared to it in any way, but I will say that I think some of the similarities are a little bit stretched. I’ve definitely seen all three [Toy Story movies] and there’s a good bit of emotion from seeing anthropomorphic toys and their relationship to the kids they belong to, but I don’t think there’s any kind of inspiration drawn from that in The Walking Dead.

Part 2

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In Part 2 of his fan chat, The Walking Dead Executive Producer and Writer Robert Kirkman talks about the possibility of Daryl finding romance in Season 4 and shares his thoughts on living life as a zombie.

Q: Can you shed any light into how the Governor’s story will continue…or close in Season 4? –Jeffrey Hawboldt

A: I can say the Governor will certainly be around. But we’ll be seeing him in a new light, and doing some different stuff with him, so it’s not going to be the same Governor in Season 4.

Q: I find it hard to believe the most badass dude in the zombie apocalypse is the only guy not getting laid! Will Daryl ever have a love interest? –Johnny Zimmerman

A: Never say never! I think that it could happen eventually. I wouldn’t want to spoil anything, but Daryl is a complex character and he’s really got a lot of emotional hurdles to get over in his life. It is kind of odd that we haven’t seen him in that kind of romantic light, but I think that adds a layer to the character that makes him a little more mysterious and a little cooler. But I wouldn’t rule out some kind of love interest for him in the future.

Q: At this juncture, the TV show has veered away from the graphic novel series. If you had to choose one of the two universes, which would you say is your favorite? –therunningdead

A: Well, I’m a little biased because I’ve been writing the comics for a decade, but I consider that to be the original. The comic book is where it all came from, so I consider the TV show to be an alternate to what happens in the comics.

Q: How do you decide what information from the comics to keep the same, and what to change? –Erica Britt

A: Well that’s a long process involving all the writers, the showrunner, everybody. It’s really a matter of sitting down at the beginning of the season and working out what happened in the comics and when and how and why, and seeing if it plugs into our world. It’s a pretty organic thing. Also [it's a chance] to set up things and do comic book moments in ways that I didn’t really do when I was writing the comics — with the benefit of hindsight.

Q: Are there any story lines you explored in the TV series that you’ve considered for the comic? — Dani

A: An example is that really great exchange between Hershel and Glenn, where Hershel talks about how you never know who’s the right guy for your daughter until you meet the right guy. It’s really a poignant thing that [Producer] Angela Kang wrote. I never had a moment like that between Glenn and Hershel, and that kind of thing would be nice. But the way these things work, I’m writing issues where — spoiler alert — Glenn and Hershel are dead. So it doesn’t really translate well, unfortunately. It would be nice to mine the great work of these fantastic writers on the show and make my job easier.

Q: When Merle is attracting the walkers to his car to take out the Governor, the first one to approach looks exactly like the iconic zombie from Dawn of the Dead, 1978. Was this a nod to that film? –radio118

A: It was a nod to that walker from Dawn of the Dead — and we had to do it twice. Greg Nicotero is a George Romero alum, and he wanted to do a little nod to Romero, so he made up that walker and put it in a scene. But that scene ended up getting cut, so he did it again to make sure it made it in the show.

Q: Do you ever wish you were a walker? –Amanda Calvert Simpson

A: No, never! Being a walker would be terrible. You smell bad, you’re falling apart, and I’m sure it’s really uncomfortable. But even just from a practical real-world standpoint, those guys are covered in latex and sticky paint and fake blood, and it’s hot in Georgia. I have a tremendous amount of respect for anybody who plays a walker on our show, because it is an extremely difficult job that I will never do because I’m lazy and I don’t like being uncomfortable.

Source: The Walking Dead on AMCtv.com

Q&A with Laurie Holden (Andrea)

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twd-s3-laurie-holden-interview-325Actress Laurie Holden, who plays Andrea on AMC’s The Walking Dead, talks about her character’s final moments and the alternate “happy ending” she created for the fans.

Q: What a Season Finale! Did you have any input into Andrea’s final moments?

A: No, but what was written… the actual words that were spoken, felt absolutely perfect. It was organic and true to the character and I am grateful that her intent, what was most important in her heart, was finally spoken and shared.

Q. How do you feel about Andrea’s fate?

A. I will never think of her as a victim… I see her as a casualty of war. Andrea had a tumultuous journey this season, but at the end of the day, in spite of everything, so many positive things came out of it; the people of Woodbury did escape and reach their sanctuary and none of the people at the prison were killed.

Q: Andrea spends her last moments talking about why she didn’t kill the Governor when she had the chance. You’re a human rights activist; can you relate to her dilemma?

A: Absolutely, 100 percent. Listen, do I think it’s sad and a bit depressing that this woman got caught up in a bad situation and ended up losing her life? Yes, it is obviously a tragedy. But I truly believe Andrea’s death was not in vain. She went down fighting for the people. She believed in humanity. And at the end of the day, that is all that matters, really. Sometimes one must fall for the others to rise. And I am glad it was her and not any of the people she loved and cared for.

Q: What do you think about your character’s arc on the show?

A: It’s been such an incredible journey; the fact that this woman who was once suicidal and had no will to live, was able to grow, evolve and emerge not only as a survivor but as a leader? That’s been such an amazing gift for me as an artist. And I feel blessed to have had a three-season run. I am truly proud of this woman’s journey; I love who she became and what she stood for at the end of the world. After losing everyone and everything, she never lost her heart.

Q: What are some artifacts or mementos you have that you’ll hold onto to remember your time on the show?

A: I have been sent the most amazing artwork from people all over the world. The most beautiful lithographs and sculptures — I’ve been so touched by people’s creativity. I would have liked to take my gun, but I don’t think they would have let me on the plane with that!

Q: If you could have given Andrea any advice at the beginning of the season, what would it have been?

A: Andrea should have never allowed Michonne to leave those gates. She should have pressed further, because Michonne was dancing around the issue and not giving her the full story. If Andrea knew that there was any sort of real threat in Woodbury, she would have high-tailed it out of there with her bestie. But what’s done is done. I just wish they had better communication. Andrea loved Michonne with all her heart. It breaks my heart that they were separated.

Q: Andrea has had a handful of on-screen love moments thus far on the show. What’s the secret to getting a love scene out of the writer’s room?

A: Ok, first of all, it’s not necessarily a coup! I find it hilarious that other actors want love scenes. I’m like, “Guys, you have to show up on set in front of all your friends and colleagues, and millions of people are going to watch it.” It’s not exactly an easy day at the office. Listen, David Morrissey is a gentleman and he’s lovely, and I work with the utmost professionals, but it’s a strange thing to be intimate and naked in front of other people. It’s nuts!

Q: How did the on-screen rivalry between Woodbury and the prison play out on set?

A: In the beginning it was very playful and we would put pictures up on the makeup and hair trailer. Norman [Reedus], who is a very good friend of mine, would write notes saying, “You betrayed us, when are you coming back?” They liked to kid me, because they would see pictures of me showered and wearing clean clothes, and they’d be like, “What kind of show are you on, 90210?”

Q: There’s a great picture online of you strangling David Morrissey. Did you ever consider taking him out, so his character couldn’t take yours out?

A: I think that was the real “happy ending.” But since they weren’t going to get that ending, that was my cheeky way of giving it to them. The Governor is well beyond any sort of redemption.

Source: The Walking Dead on AMCtv.com

Q&A – Jose Pablo Cantillo (Martinez)

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Q&A - Jose Pablo CantilloActor Jose Pablo Cantillo, who plays Woodbury soldier Martinez on AMC’s The Walking Dead, talks about the similarity between pickled eggs and walkers and the secret to making an epic on-screen kill.

Q: Martinez gets some great moments with his baseball bat this season. Did you have to dust off any little league skills for those scenes?

A: I did have to practice, although I have a background in martial arts. I studied Jeet Kune Do and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. On element of Jeet Kune Do is that I had several of years of practice with the kali stick — a stick with a size and length similar to a baseball bat. It might be a little bit different, but a secret that I’ll let you in on is that on-set we’d swap out the bat for a rubber bat, which is actually weighted like a kali stick. It’s sort of to protect you from hurting yourself so that you can wield it with a little more confidence. I was able to have fun and make it look kind of flashy because of that.

Q: Martinez seems to get a real release from taking down walkers. What’s the closest thing like that for you?

A: Martial arts and surfing. In martial arts, the way that they train really does channel that killer instinct. We used to put motorcycle helmets on and go full force at each other with these sticks to train. Or we would put on the gloves, and the other guy would wear a motorcycle helmet and we would just rip into him. Knees, elbows, head-butts — you don’t have to pull your punches in those situations. There’s a little bit of an element of acting in it as well. You always motivate with a training scenario, like there’s a loved one that you’re defending or something. But in terms of my own personal enjoyment these days, surfing is the big release for me; less martial arts now that I’m getting a little bit older.

Q: Martinez has the unenviable task of ordering Andrea to give up her gun in Episode 14. Have you ever had to disarm someone?

A: My toddler, a 4-year-old, she holds on to her toys and stuffed animals as preciously as Andrea holds on to her gun. Actually just this morning we were taking her to school and were really trying to break her of that habit of bringing stuffed animals to school and every day we literally have to take five to ten minutes and talk her out of her death grip on that zebra. In terms of how dire and important those objects are, it’s certainly similar.

Q: Martinez and Daryl get pretty competitive over their walker-killing. Is that something you can relate to?

A: Last night, I was out really late at this event. And there were these nasty looking, pickled eggs in this giant jar of purple liquid at this kind of posh event. We were in line and this guy was like, “No one has touched those.” And I was like, “I dare you eat one.” And he took two and was like, “I dare you to eat three!” I’m married, I’m not trying to impress anybody, but I took the challenge. I ate two, and took a bite of the third, and then I tapped out. At least it was a half better than the guy. It’s so funny; I grew up in the Midwest, I have two older brothers, and you’re just as competitive playing football as you are eating pickled eggs, or trying to kill zombies. As long as you don’t take it too far, I think it’s a good way for people to relate.

Q: What’s the secret to a great walker kill?

A: There are so many different departments at play when you do a good kill. The writers write it. Then you sit down with a stunt coordinator, and they figure out your skill set. On location they bring in the effects person, and he’ll say, “It’ll be great if you can actually wield the bat in this way, and then we’ll make an even more awesome splatter.” It’s a team effort; you really have to trust all the different departments and collaborate to make the kills epic.

Source: The Walking Dead on AMCtv.com

Q&A with Chad L. Coleman (Tyreese)

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twd-s3-chad-coleman-interview-325Actor Chad L. Coleman, who plays Tyreese on AMC’s The Walking Dead, talks about learning his own survival skills and why he’s a natural mediator between Rick’s people and the Governor’s.

Q: You’re one of many new characters on-set this year. What helped you get up to speed?

A: Well, Danai [Gurira] and I had done Broadway together; August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone at the Lincoln Center in Manhattan. So we already had a relationship and that helped. But everybody was just amazingly good people. It was just easy that way. Many of them were fans of The Wire, and on some level it helps when people appreciate what you do and know your work.

Q: Who would you rather have by your side in the event of the apocalypse: Cutty, your character from The Wire, or Tyreese?

A: If I had to choose one I would choose Tyreese. Cutty had a chance to find himself, but he also has a sense of his own limitations. With Tyreese, I really feel the sky’s the limit. Cutty says all I can really do is be in the gym and try to help these kids if they come. He recognized certain restrictions in himself, and I don’t see that in Tyreese, who’s a bona fide leader that can probably find his footing in any situation.

Q: Are your survival skills in any way comparable to Tyreese’s?

A: I spent four years in the United States Army between 1985 and 1989, and I certainly learned how to survive out in the woods. I served at the Pentagon and at Fort Leavenworth — my job was video cameraman, and that allowed me to travel to places like Korea, Japan, Alaska, Germany and the Netherlands. But for my training, I learned everything: firing M-16s, working with grenades, bivouac, first-aid, concealment, doing the low-crawl, working around barbed wire, rappelling. You name it, we did it.

Q: Do you have a sister, and if so, are you two at all similar to Tyreese and Sasha?

A: I got four sisters. They’re all very fierce. In terms of my baby sister, yeah, she’s a very strong-willed lady and I can certainly see some aspects of her in the character. She’s going to assert herself and I’m going to gently correct. Now, Sonequa [Martin-Green] is also very much her own woman and I love that. If you watch, you’ll see us checking in with each other; I don’t just play her straight as a baby sister. We’re a team. I just felt like a natural bond with this young lady from the beginning.

Q: Tyreese has spent time getting in with both camps of apocalypse survivors. Are you the type of person who can fit in with different groups of people?

A: I find myself in situations like that all the time. I’ve always been a person who tries to build bridges and not walls. Whether it’s my ex-wife and my step-son, or my daughter and my ex, I’m that guy in the middle and I try to make sure we all stay together. I think that honestly when you grow up in a foster home, in one respect you learn to sit back and observe. You start to understand a lot about human behavior. For me, it’s incredibly important that we find a way to co-exist in a peaceful way. You live to fight another day and live to fight in a different way.

Q: Tyreese is a former football player. Is that another thing you share with him?

A: When I graduated from high school I was 5’8” 140 pounds. The talent was there and I had done really well in drama. But I was running track then; the mentality is that you’re small so you should run long distances. But for Tyreese, I didn’t have to worry too much about the physical part too much. If you go look in the graphic novel at the way he looks, I’m pretty close to looking like him.

Source: The Walking Dead on AMCtv.com

Q&A with Lauren Cohan (Maggie Greene)

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twd-s3-lauren-cohan-interview-325Actress Lauren Cohan, who plays Maggie Greene on AMC’s The Walking Dead, talks about her big make-out scene with Glenn in Episode 13 and her philosophy on love in the apocalypse.

Q: It’s been a challenging season for Maggie. Has that affected you personally as well?

A: It’s stressed me out a little bit, but I feel the writers are writing to my emotional self. I’m very good at being emotional like that. That’s something they’ve probably recognized and written to, so it’s been a very rewarding season for me. Fun is not something you think of when talking about the apocalypse, but it really has been enjoyable. If somebody is going through emotional gut-wrenching material, it’s pretty serious. But if we have time and if we have to jump off a car and slash somebody’s head open, we do have fun with that.

Q: Maggie has many roles on the show, “lover” and “daughter” foremost among them. Which do you favor?

A: As much as I love the romance between Maggie and Glenn, I just really love seeing the father-daughter relationship done right on-screen. Maybe it’s because I have two dads, I don’t know — my mother remarried when I was about 7; my biological dad and I are very close and my step-dad and I are very close. My moral dilemma is always which one is going to walk me down the aisle, when the day comes.

Q: You recently tweeted about the differences between British and American actors. What are some of the differences between these two camps on set?

A: I don’t really see that distinction between England or America on set. Andy [Lincoln] speaks with an American accent all the time, David Morrissey speaks with an American accent all the time, and we’re all a bit method when we’re out there. The only surreal part of it for me is seeing everyone on the weekends: Andy wears glasses and speaks like an English person.

Q: You have a pretty intense sex scene with Glenn in Episode 13. Were you nervous at all about shooting that?

A: No, because I really trust the crew. At the end of the day what’s on camera is there forever, and I don’t want it to look fake or self-conscious. There’s also only so much that people can show on cable, but we wanted to do justice to this couple in love. They have this stubborn argument that has lasted for days and weeks and it was this healing moment. I think it’s a beautiful scene.

Q: Has it been the genesis for any jokes between you and Steven Yeun?

A: We are constantly joking about it! All of our fans are convinced we’re an actual couple. When I went on a road trip with my dad, I was taking pictures of where I was and putting it on Twitter and people were writing, “Lauren, we all know that when you say dad you really mean Steven.” It has become a running joke for us. If we post any picture of the two of us sitting together, people start saying things.

Q: You gotta balance love and war.

A: You really do, and that’s why we were quite OK with it being a passionate scene. That’s the difference with European and American television. You can have someone’s brain pulled out through their ear but you can’t show a nipple. My feeling is always make love, not zombies. We’re killing it with this show — literally killing it!

Source: The Walking Dead on AMCtv.com

Part One of the Exclusive Interview with IronE Singleton, T-Dog on TWD

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IronE Singleton, popularly known as T-Dog on “The Walking Dead”, discusses his early life and breakthrough into the entertainment industry in part one of this exclusive interview. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Singleton’s story embodies everything we have come to understand about the lives of many inner city youth growing up in low-income housing projects. IronE fought to have a life far different from the one he knew growing up, and persevered in order to achieve his dream of becoming an actor. Watch the interview to hear about his journey and come back next week for more advice, insight, and information on his new autobiography, “Blindsided by the Walking Dead.”

Source: Valhalla Entertainment

Robert Kirkman on the Conan Show, Exclusive Clip of this Sunday’s Episode

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Robert Kirkman on ConanRobert Kirkman was interviewed on Conan recently, they have an exclusive clip of this Sunday’s upcoming episode to share with us all. I have also included a few other clips taken from the interview, enjoy!

Check out the sneak peek below. Looks like Merle is planning something, much to the dislike of the others…

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What are your thoughts/predictions for this Sunday’s Ep? Post them below and let us know!