The Walking Dead producer explains 'organic decision' to kill off three major characters
'It's always about what these moments and these deaths do to other characters that catapults them forward'
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Your support makes all the difference.The Walking Dead left fans stunned on Monday (25 March) after killing off three major characters.
**Spoilers ahead for season nine, episode 15**
Henry (Matt Lintz), Tara (Alanna Masterson) and Enid (Katelyn Nacon) ended up with their severed heads on spikes thanks to the show’s new villains The Whisperers.
The moments recreates an iconic comic book scene – though, the source material sees both Ezekiel (Khary Payton) and Rosita (Christian Serratos) being beheaded.
Questioned about why they decided to kill off an alternate three characters, co-executive producer and director Greg Nicotero revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that they knew the moment was coming, but not necessarily who would die.
“It’s always about what these moments and these deaths do to other characters that catapults them forward,” Nicotero said. ”In regard to Henry and his relationship to Carol (Melissa McBride), Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Ezekiel… there’s a very specific reason to lose him.”
Perhaps the most shocking death was that of Tara, as Masterson has appeared as a regular on the show since its fourth season.
“In terms of other characters?” Nicotero continued. ”Tara stepped up as a leader once Jesus (Tom Payne) died. She was showing some real authority and leadership at Hilltop. Ultimately, it’s an organic decision, the way it evolves, like the relationship between Enid and Alden (Callan McAuliffe).
“You see a budding relationship and a budding romance, where people are rising to what makes them the best person they can be, like Tara. In many instances, some people find those realisations. In other instances, it’s brutally torn from them. “
Nicotero also confirmed that winter has finally come to The Walking Dead. “We finally have our frozen zombies,” he said. ”We finally have our winter episode.”
The Walking Dead airs its season nine finale on 31 March in the US and the following evening in the UK.
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