The Walking Dead premiere could upset fans
Director Greg Nicotero says show’s unpredictability will leave devoted fans divided
There’s no way around it: The Season 7 premiere of AMC’s The Walking Deadis going to upset fans, says executive producer Greg Nicotero.
Back in April, the Season 6 finale was a 90-minute nail-biter, which ended in a cliffhanger as viewers were finally introduced to the group’s latest nemesis, Negan. It’s certain that one of Sheriff Rick Grimes’ crew has met his or her end via a barb-wire-bound baseball bat nicknamed Lucille.
“It was a rough episode,” said Nicotero, the show’s head of special effects and makeup, of the season premiere, which he directed.
“Our story is dark, man. There’s not a lot of like ‘Yay!’ left in our world anymore, so it is really dark and kind of where the show needed to go.
“I love the idea that no matter how well our characters think they know what’s coming next, there’s no way they can predict it. To me, it’s fascinating and captivating and you know, yeah, people are going to be (upset).”
AMC recently announced that it would air a special two-hour retrospective for those needing or wanting to catch up with the show. The Walking Dead: Journey So Far will recap the entire series with clips of pivotal moments, along with commentary and interviews from the cast and crew, and will air at 9 p.m. Sunday, ahead of the Oct. 23 Season 7 premiere.
Nicotero was in the thick of filming and directing a few episodes of The Walking Dead in Georgia back in June, but made time to return to Los Angeles for the opening of Universal Studios Hollywood’s The Walking Dead attraction, which he co-produced with Halloween Horror Nights creative director John Murdy and his crew.
Nicotero said he never could have dreamed that the little show he fell in love with would garner such a massive following, let alone lend itself to be made into a full-time attraction at a major theme park.
“The thing that The Walking Dead has been able to do is transcend those traditional boundaries by appealing to a much broader group of people. I’ve had a grandmother and a granddaughter come up to me and say, ‘Oh my God, we love your show. We watch it together,’ ” he said.
“It has oddly become a family bonding experience to watch The Walking Dead communally.”
He also fully understands the nextday buzz and water-cooler talk or the fiery outcries on social media after an episode airs, as he and his crew are also big fans of HBO’s Game of Thrones.
“I watch Game of Thrones and I love every minute of it, and to me that’s how The Walking Dead fans watch our show, every Sunday night,” he said. “It’s about being taken on a journey and sometimes that journey takes you to some f---ed up places. It’s emotional sometimes, even for us that work on the show.”