Moviefone Editorial

Tag: @tvprogram:228736

  • ‘The Walking Dead’ Season 8B Trailer Will Make You Cry For Carl

    “Before Mom died, she told me I was going to beat this world,” Carl says in the trailer for “The Walking Dead” Season 8B.

    He didn’t. But that doesn’t mean his father and friends can’t.

    The trailer has a distinctly elegiac tone, appropriate since the midseason premiere will be the swan song for Carl (Chandler Riggs). Last we saw the one-eyed teen, he’d been bitten by a zombie and was waiting to die.

    He’s not the only one in peril, of course. The Alexandrians are hiding out in the sewers as Negan and the Saviors raze their homes.

    The trailer shows the ragtag group making its way to Hilltop, where Maggie welcomes to make one last stand against Negan.

    “All of us together will be their worst damn nightmare,” growls Daryl (Norman Reedus).

    “The Walking Dead” Season 8B premieres Sunday, Feb. 25 at 9 p.m. on AMC.

  • Andrew Lincoln Previews ‘Catharsis’ of Carl’s Death on ‘The Walking Dead’

    If you have to go out on “The Walking Dead,” go out in style.

    When the AMC zombie drama returns to finish its eighth season on Feb. 25, it’ll be the last episode for Carl (Chandler Riggs). He was bitten by a walker in the midseason finale, and since then, producers and cast members have acknowledged that this is definitely the end for the troubled teen.

    Andrew Lincoln, who plays Carl’s dad Rick Grimes, said at least Carl’s death provides “catharsis” for everybody.

    “I’m not going to lie to you, that was sad,” he noted. “The beautiful thing is it’s what we rarely do in our show — we actually give the opportunity for a goodbye. It was unusual in that regard. Usually, things happen and people are ripped from you in this world that we inhabit. Thankfully, there was some sense of catharsis on this one, because we got to leave it all out on the screen. I thought Chandler did a remarkable job, as he always has done, but particularly in this episode.”

    But Carl’s death will serve a purpose in the story, propelling Rick to new emotional places. “There is a balancing of the scales in Rick’s life that happens in the back eight episodes,” Lincoln teased. “A lot of it is because of what is said in episode 9, by his son.”

    “The Walking Dead” returns Sunday, Feb. 25 on AMC.

  • Harry Potter Celebration: ‘Walking Dead’ Star Andrew Lincoln to Narrate Quidditch History Book

    This weekend at Harry Potter Celebration, a three-day extravaganza dedicated to the Boy Who Lived held at Universal Studios Orlando, there was an exciting announcement from audio book giant Audible and Pottermore (the official website for author J.K. Rowling), which should please fans of both Potter and everyone’s favorite zombie show.

    During the opening ceremonies a message flashed on the giant screens in Universal Studios Orlando from none other than The Walking Dead.” Was he a part of the next “Fantastic Beasts” movie (out this November)? Nope. As it turns out, he’s been tapped by Audible and Pottermore to narrate “Quidditch Through the Ages,” a Hogwarts Library title written by Rowling (under the incredibly Potter-y pseudonym Kennilworthy Whisp). The title will also feature commentary by beloved Potter characters (including Ginny Potter) and can be purchased on March 15th (preorders are now up). Proceeds will also benefit a number of charities.

    The book was first published in 2001 and serves as a kind of historical overview and how-to guide for the fantastical sport of Quidditch. This marks another expansion into the esoteric corners of the Wizarding World, corners that are becoming increasingly important and profitable (since the “Fantastic Beasts” franchise also began as a similar textbook). “The Wizarding World is one that I always wanted to get the chance to step into,” Lincoln said in the video. It remains to be seen if the Golden Snitch can take out a walker.

  • ‘The Walking Dead’ 2018 Return Episode Is Near Record-Length & Made Director Cry

    “The Walking Dead” Season 8 returns Sunday, Feb. 25 with a super-sized and super-sad episode.

    Executive producer/special effects guru Greg Nicotero directed the midseason return. He compared it to Season 5’s “What Happened and What’s Going On,” the lyrical Episode 9 that showed the death of Tyrese. As fans know now, Season 8’s Episode 9 will show the death of Carl Grimes.

    Here’s an Episode 9 photo preview, via Entertainment Weekly:

    The Walking Dead (2018)Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes - The Walking Dead _ Season 8, Episode 9 - Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

    “I think it’s one of our most powerful episodes that we’ve ever produced,” Nicotero told EW. “When I watched the first cut of this episode, tears were coming out of my eyes 20 minutes into it. […]

    I would compare this episode very much to the episode with Chad Coleman [Tyrese] in terms of really having some space to breathe with these characters as they process what happened.”

    Carl’s big death episode will be extended to 82 minutes. According to The Hollywood Reporter, that makes it the second-longest episode behind Season 7, Episode 4, “Service,” which was 85 minutes.

    The killing of Carl Grimes was a shock to fans, actor Chandler Riggs himself, and all of his co-stars.

    “The Walking Dead” returns Sunday, Feb. 25 at 9 p.m. on AMC, followed by “Talking Dead.”

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  • Norman Reedus ‘Was Desperately Unhappy’ About That ‘Walking Dead’ Season 8 Death

    Can you imagine being on the set of “The Walking Dead” Season 8 when the news came down about Carl Grimes (Chandler Riggs)?

    Sure, this show is known for killing off characters, major and minor. But Carl is/was not only an original Season 1 character, he was presumed to be the future of the show. Robert Kirkman, whose “Walking Dead” comic book series is still ongoing, said his series could survive without Rick Grimes, basically because it has Carl. Even Glenn’s death, though devastating, was sourced to the comic book so it wasn’t so shocking.

    Norman Reedus (Daryl Dixon) was among the many who assumed No One Is Safe … Except Carl. But the Season 8 midseason finale showed that Carl is not safe. It was a shock to everyone, including actor Chandler Riggs, his on-screen dad Andrew Lincoln, his real-life dad, and costar Reedus.

    “I was desperately unhappy about that,” Norman Reedus told Entertainment Weekly, when asked about Carl. “I’ve seen Chandler grow up from a little boy. I’ve known that kid so long, and it always hurts when you lose a family member on the show. Chandler is definitely a family member to me. I was not happy about it. I always thought Chandler would be the last man standing, to be honest.”

    Reedus said the people that started the show are the heart of the show.

    “When you lose those key members, it’s such a big blow to the show, and to the fans, and to us that are there. Who’s left? There’s only a few of us left out of all those people. If you wanted to turn it into a totally different show, you get rid of those people. But if you want to hold onto what made the show special, you’ve got to be very careful what you do with those people.”

    “Those people” now include Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier, Reedus as Daryl Dixon, and — if you wanna see it that way — Lennie James as Morgan Jones. Morgan was a major part of the pilot episode, and fans were happy to see him return briefly in Season 3, and then regularly after Season 5. (They were less happy to see how his character was treated, and now they’re just confused about his future on “Fear.”) Everyone else showed up in Season 2 or later.

    Chandler Riggs’ final episode as Carl airs Sunday, Feb. 25 in the midseason return of Season 8. It’s a quandary for fans. Do they tune in for Chandler in honor of Carl’s final hour, or protest the decision to not only kill Carl but drag out his death through a cliffhanger for maximum ratings?

    There are eight episodes left to Season 8 before “Fear” Season 4 starts with Morgan as the crossover character. When TWD Season 9 returns in October, it will have a new showrunner at the helm, and maybe more hope for the future.

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  • ‘The Walking Dead’ Renewed for Season 9 With New (Fourth) Showrunner

    Wow, maybe that Change.org petition actually worked.

    “The Walking Dead” is still only halfway through airing Season 8. The next eight episodes start Sunday, Feb. 25. But AMC just announced that the show was renewed for Season 9, and it will have a new leader at the helm.

    Longtime TWD episode writer and co-executive producer Angela Kang will take over as showrunner. Scott M. Gimple inked an overall deal, Entertainment Weekly reports, giving him the newly developed title of Chief Content Officer. He will now oversee the entire “Walking Dead” TV franchise, including the main show, “Fear The Walking Dead” (which will feature Morgan Jones in the new season), and future brand extensions.

    Angela Kang will become the fourth showrunner in what is increasingly looking like a cursed Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor job.

    Frank Darabont created “The Walking Dead” by adapting Robert Kirkman’s comic book. He was the first showrunner but was fired halfway through filming Season 2. He was replaced by his No. 2 Glen Mazzara, who took over in Season 2 and lasted until the end of Season 3. He was then fired and replacement with his No. 2, Scott M. Gimple for Seasons 4-8. Darabont has been in a legal battle with AMC for a while, and several other executive producers past and present have also filed suit alleging they were cheated out of profits.

    AMC presents 'Talking Dead Live' for the premiere of 'The Walking Dead'Every showrunner has his or her battles, and Gimple helmed the ship to both its highest ratings (the Season 5 premiere) and the steep decline of Season 7 and Season 8. At this point, the show is earning the kind of same-day numbers they had back in seasons 2 and 3, which can’t make advertisers happy.

    Gimple also recently came under fire for the shocking story decision to ***SPOILER ALERT*** kill off Carl Grimes. We’ll see Carl’s death actually happen when Season 8 returns. Young actor Chandler Riggs’ father lashed out at Gimple on Facebook for firing his son just before his 18th birthday, after allegedly telling Chandler he wanted the star to stay for the next three years.

    After the Season 8 midseason finale revealed Carl was bitten, a Change.org petition was launched to get Gimple fired as showrunner. The petition had more than 82,000 signatures by Saturday, when the new showrunner was announced. Don’t let that give you too much hope, petitioners! They were probably going to do it anyway.

    But now Angela Kang is the new boss, and here’s a look at the work she had a hand in under the previous showrunners:

    “The Walking Dead” returns February 25 at 9 p.m. on AMC.

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  • ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ First Photos of Morgan Hint to Big Time Jump (and Good News?)

    So … Morgan might survive “The Walking Dead” Season 8 after all?

    “Fear the Walking Dead.” Fans still don’t quite understand how the timelines and locations will line up, but speculation left Morgan dying at some point later in TWD Season 8 and appearing in “Fear” as a prequel. Since “Fear” started covering the beginning of this “walker” apocalypse, it made sense that Morgan’s “Fear” scenes would be flashbacks of a sort to a time before “The Walking Dead” Season 5.

    But now it looks like “Fear” Season 4 — which premieres April 15, right after the TWD Season 8 finale — might catch up to the main show’s current timeline. Because new first look “Fear” photos from Entertainment Weekly show Morgan with his fighting staff. If that is the same stick he got from Eastman in TWD Season 6, the crossover must be happening after “The Walking Dead” Season 8. Right?

    Here are the photos:Fear The Walking Dead (2018) Lennie James as Morgan Jones - Fear the Walking Dead _ Season 4, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Richard Foreman, Jr/AMCFear The Walking Dead (2018) Lennie James as Morgan Jones - Fear the Walking Dead _ Season 4, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Richard Foreman, Jr/AMC
    And here’s a photo added later, of Morgan with new character Althea, played by Maggie Grace:

    Fear The Walking Dead (2018) Maggie Grace as Althea, Lennie James as Morgan Jones - Fear the Walking Dead _ Season 4, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Richard Foreman, Jr/AMCFans in the EW comments were left with a lot of questions about Morgan’s timeline. Here’s one fan with some potential answers, if they turn out to be correct:


    We’ll see. “The Walking Dead” Season 8 — still including Morgan — returns from winter break on Sunday, Feb. 25. “Fear the Walking Dead” Season 4 premieres Sunday, April 15, directly following the “Walking Dead” Season 8 finale.

    “Fear” returns with two new showrunners in Andrew Chambliss and Ian Goldberg. The whole franchise — TWD, “Fear,” and whatever else shows up — now has a new Chief Content Officer overseeing everything in Scott M. Gimple. He’s leaving as showrunner of TWD in Season 9, with AMC giving the fourth showrunner title to longtime TWD writer Angela Kang.

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  • ‘The Walking Dead’ EP Defends Show After Season 8 Ratings Drop

    “The Walking Dead” brand is still relevant, even if viewing habits are changing. That’s the word from executive producer David Alpert, who founded Skybound Entertainment with TWD creator Robert Kirkman.

    Alpert talked to Variety’s “Remote Controlled” podcast about the sharp ratings drop that started last year after the huge ratings for the Season 7 premiere. That devastating episode led some viewers to stop watching — at least “live” Sunday nights — and the same-day numbers (and 18-49 demo ratings) have slowly and steadily dropped ever since. The silver lining is that “The Walking Dead” remains the most-watched TV show — and highest-rated in the advertiser-loving 18-49 demo — on Sunday nights, even if it can no longer compete with its own glory days.

    Alpert defended the show to Variety by arguing that many people are still watching, they’re just delaying their viewing until later in the week, or even in later months, or later years:

    “I don’t think in any way the brand has lost its relevance in general. I think we’re just seeing a decline in urgency across all media to consume something at a specific time. […]

    I think overall we’re seeing increased competition, not just from television and not just from streaming services, but you get content everywhere. The idea that people watch things super live, that need to view on the same night and we’re measuring ratings like a live rating, I feel like it’s a little be anachronistic to be like, ‘Oh, you’re not holding the same ratings that you were.’ […]

    I still get people coming up to me at conventions talking about, they’re in the middle of Season 6. They can’t believe what’s going on. I still get people coming up to me like, ‘You killed Beth? You killed Beth? What’s the matter with you?’ And I’m like, ‘Are you in Season 5?’ and they’re like, ‘Yeah, I’m in Season 5!’”

    It’s hard to gauge how many people are still getting caught up from the beginning. But advertisers do tend to care about who is watching on the same night versus later on, so AMC probably cares, too. It may be an outdated way of judging viewership, but since the Nielsen numbers still have tremendous power, the TWD ratings drop does matter.

    AMC's 'The Walking Dead' Season 6 Fan Premiere Event At Madison Square Garden 2015 - ArrivalsAccording to Variety’s previous reports, “The Walking Dead” Season 8’s recent midseason finale failed to provide a major boost in the Nielsen Live+Same Day ratings. That episode averaged a 3.4 rating in adults 18-49 and 7.9 million viewers, the lowest-rated midseason finale since Season 2’s 3.5 and 6.6 million viewers. The first half of Season 8 averaged a 3.9 rating and 8.7 million viewers per episode, compared to Season 7’s 5.7 demo average by the halfway point, along with 12.1 million overall viewers:

    “This is the latest in a string of bad ratings news for the megahit AMC series this season. The Season 8 premiere was the show’s lowest-rated since its third season, despite the fact that the Season 8 opener was also the show’s 100th episode. This season has also seen the show consistently put up numbers it has not experienced since its first few seasons.”

    However, since the midseason finale had a major shocking twist, it stands to reason that many viewers — even some who just read about the twist and didn’t watch the episode — will be tuning in to see what happens next.

    Season 8 returns Sunday, Feb. 25 at 9 p.m. on AMC.

    [Via: ComicBook.com]

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  • Jerry of ‘The Walking Dead’ Joins Zachary Levi’s ‘Shazam!’

    Does King Ezekiel know?

    According to “The Walking Dead.”

    In “Shazam,” Zachary Levi plays the adult superhero version of young Billy Batson (Asher Angel). Billy can transform into Shazam by saying the title word. Andrews, Deadline reports, will play the foster parent at the group home where Billy Baston lives. So far, the cast includes Levi, Angel, Andrews, “IT” star Jack Dylan Grazer, Grace Fulton, Ian Chen, and Jovan Armand.

    David Sandberg is directing “Shazam!” which is expected to start filming in February in Toronto. So you shouldn’t worry that this means anything bad for Jerry on “The Walking Dead.” Filming is already over for TWD Season 8, and Season 9 (which is inevitable) will probably keep the usual filming schedule of May to November in Georgia. So there’s plenty of time for Andrews to film a costarring role in “Shazam!” between February and May, if it comes to that.

    “The Walking Dead” Season 8 returns Sunday, Feb. 25 on AMC. “Shazam!” is reportedly aiming for a spring 2019 release.

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  • Chandler Riggs Asked ‘The Walking Dead’ Spoiler Site Not to Confirm Death & They Agreed

    SPOILERS AHEAD from “The Walking Dead” Season 8 midseason finale.

    “The Walking Dead” star Chandler Riggs wrote a passionate plea to The Spoiling Dead Fans, requesting they not confirm the death of his character in the Season 8 midseason finale. They complied. In return, the Carl Grimes star wrote a kind, thoughtful note to TSDF’s members.

    All told, it sounds like peace is possible in the All Out War between TV shows and spoilers.

    Months earlier, after the summer filming of the midseason finale, TSDF did post “unconfirmed” spoilers suggesting Carl Grimes might be killed. That was from their usual boots-on-the-ground reporting from sources in the Atlanta, Georgia area. But in December, the week before Episode 8 aired, they didn’t do what they usually do and post a Q&A from their source, revealing what would happen in the next episode. They instead wrote a note saying there would be no Q&A and spoilery bits, and that they’d reveal why after the midseason finale.

    Well, Carl Grimes did die/prepare to die in the midseason finale — and apparently it was a surprise for the actor as well that they’d be willing to kill off this OG main character.

    After the episode, TSDF leaders “NinjaPancake” and “ShinyFirefly” did as promised and revealed why they never confirmed Carl’s death scene — because Chandler Riggs asked them, nicely, not to.

    Here’s a screen shot of the message Riggs sent to them, posted on their forum:

    TSDF realized they had a choice, as they wrote:

    “We could ignore the request and continue to do what we do by confirming Carl’s death (which means we would have had to confirm how), or, we could honor Chandler, the young man who we watched grow up on our television screens for the past eight years. We could give him the biggest send-off we possibly could simply by shutting our mouths. We chose to honor Chandler.”

    TSDF asked Chandler if he would write a message to the spoiler community — usually the bane of TV producers, directors, and stars — and he wrote this respectful note, posted on the forum:

    dear tsdf:

    i don’t really know how to start this other than saying thank you. though we (cast & crew) have kinda always been super frustrated with this community, seeing how dedicated you all are to the show over the last few weeks really gives me a new appreciation for you all. up until 701, i hated seeing our hard work getting leaked-but once 701 aired with a large chunk of the fanbase knowing what would happen, it made me realize that knowing what happens doesn’t always take away the integrity of the show. though many people knew who was going to die, they still cried and shook in terror seeing the characters they loved getting killed.

    that being said, i reached out to ninja a few weeks ago asking to not reveal the end of 808, since a lot of my performance relied on how the episode ends. ninja & shiny knew that they would take a lot of heat from this decision, but them caring more about how i felt towards this episode than their reputation gave me a massive new level of respect and appreciation towards them.

    and seeing how dedicated and consistently excited you all are about the show despite the drastic decrease in twd’s ratings made me the most excited about this episode than i’ve been in years. though i don’t necessarily approve of the spoiler content being released on this forum, fans like you are the reason that i’ve had a job for the last 8 years. people like you have given me the chance to live my dream, and have given me the opportunity to go on to do bigger and more exciting things than twd. you all have let me make you shake in nervousness in fear of your most beloved character in danger, yell in excitement at a victory for “the group”, scream at your television in frustration of carl “not staying in the house” (also please stop yelling that at me at conventions lmao), and cry out of empathy when your favorite character suffers a grave loss. and now, i invite you to be excited to see how carl’s story ends, and how my story continues to unfold both musically & theatrically.

    thank you again for giving me this opportunity of a lifetime. i won’t let you down.

    –chandler​

    Beautiful. And see? World peace is totally possible.

    Carl Grimes will be back in “The Walking Dead” Season 8, Episode 9 midseason premiere, which will air Sunday, February 25, 2018 on AMC.

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