AMC’s The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol Showrunner David Zabel on Season 3 being set in Spain, Season 4 thoughts, and more.

With the second season finale of AMC’s Norman Reedus (Daryl) and Melissa McBride (Carol)-starring The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol currently streaming on AMC+ and set to hit the network tonight, we’re going to avoid any spoilers for S02E06: “Au Revoir les Enfants” (with a story by  Laura Snow and a teleplay by Jason Richman and David Zabel). But that doesn’t mean we don’t have some spoiler-free insights from Showrunner David Zabel to pass along regarding what shifting the action to Spain for Season 3 brings to the series, how a potential fourth season would tie into the previous three, and how “all bets are off” if they make it to a fifth season.

Photo Credit: Stéphanie Branchu/AMC

“We loved France. France was fantastic. The people were great, the crew was great, and the cast was great. We really loved France. But it’s also exciting to move on to another chapter, and it does inject new energy, and it gives the show a different, whole other look and vibe and quality and flavor. It’s really exciting to be doing it in Spain now,” Zabel shared during a recent interview with Collider. “It’s similar to what we experienced at the beginning of Season 1, looking through the prism of the French apocalypse now. Now, we’re looking through the prism of the Spanish apocalypse. That’s really cool. That keeps the show vibrant and alive. Because the characters are trying to get home, there is a sense that they couldn’t really settle anywhere too long. There has to constantly be this desire to try to get somewhere. Where can we get? So, we miss France, but we also love Spain and think it’s a great opportunity to keep reinventing the show and allowing the characters to be exposed to new things.”

With the third season currently in production, Zabel shared that some thoughts are in play if Season 4 gets an official green light, including how it would be “a continuation of the story we’re telling in Season 3.” In terms of where things could go beyond a fourth season, Zabel’s response was an interesting one. “I have a little bit. Who knows if it will happen,” Zabel responded when asked if he’s given any thought to a fourth season. “If we get a Season 4, it will be an outgrowth and a continuation of the story we’re telling in Season 3. That’s the pattern I’ve fallen into now. I think in 12-episode segments in my mind, which is two seasons of the show. There are six episodes in a season, so far. The first 12 were all of a piece, and if there’s a next 12, they will similarly be of a piece.” But after that? “If you ask me about Season 5, all bets are off. I have no idea about that,” Zabel added.

Photo Credit: Stéphanie Branchu/AMC

Photo Credit: Emmanuel Guimier/AMC

Soraya Hachoumi as Alika – Photo Credit: Emmanuel Guimier/AMC

Photo Credit: Emmanuel Guimier/AMC

Photo Credit: Emmanuel Guimier/AMC

Photo Credit: Emmanuel Guimier/AMC

Photo Credit: Emmanuel Guimier/AMC

Photo Credit: Emmanuel Guimier/AMC

Photo Credit: Stéphanie Branchu/AMC

Photo Credit: Stéphanie Branchu/AMC

Photo Credit: Stéphanie Branchu/AMC

Photo Credit: Stéphanie Branchu/AMC

Photo Credit: Stéphanie Branchu/AMC

Photo Credit: Emmanuel Guimier/AMC

Photo Credit: Emmanuel Guimier/AMC

Photo Credit: Emmanuel Guimier/AMC

Photo Credit: Emmanuel Guimier/AMC

Photo Credit: Emmanuel Guimier/AMC

Photo Credit: Emmanuel Guimier/AMC

Photo Credit: Stéphanie Branchu/AMC

And here’s a look at the episode promo trailer that was also released earlier today:

Along with taking part in New York Comic Con 2024 (NYCC 2024) earlier this month, Reedus, McBride, co-star Louis Puech Scigliuzzi, showrunner David Zabel, and TWD CCO Scott M. Gimple took part in a celebration of the show held by The Paley Center for Media – and we have a look at the panel event. Over the course of 45 minutes, a number of topics were touched upon – including what it was like for Reedus and McBride to reunite, for McBride to get back into “Carol” mode after three years, to film overseas, and much more. We also learn what went into the decision to move the action to Spain for the third season – and what the future might have in store for the TWD Universe. Here’s a look at the panel presentation from Saturday, October 19th:

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol: What We Know…

“It was a little weird, but then again, it wasn’t because both of our characters are very adaptive. It was kind of like riding a bike. We knew where she was, knew what she wanted, what she was trying to do. So that part was easy,” McBride shared during an interview with EW about how it was surprisingly easier to get back into the swing of things than some would expect. That said, don’t mistake McBride’s words to mean that it’s the same Carol we’ve come to know and love.

“She is determined. But it’s a different type of fearlessness that’s driven by her determination to find her friend — and also by the headspace that we find Carol in, which will be revealed.” You know, that radio communication between the two did sound a bit concerning – but McBride wasn’t offering more than that – but Reedus did drop this very interesting line: “There’s a lot of action in season 2. There’s a lot of business and a lot of very heartfelt moments. There’s also a lot of hero stuff with Melissa. It’s beautiful.”

During the first season of AMC & AMC+’s The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, Daryl (Reedus) washes ashore in France and struggles to piece together how he got there and why. The series tracks his journey across a broken but resilient France as he hopes to find a way back home. As he makes the journey, though, the connections he forms along the way complicate his ultimate plan.

The new season picks up where the first season left off, following Daryl and Carol (McBride) as they both confront old demons while she fights to find her friend and he struggles with his decision to stay in France, causing tension at the Nest. Additionally, Genet’s (Anne Charrier) movement builds momentum, setting Pouvoir on a violent collision course with the Union of Hope in the fight for France’s future.

Looking ahead, Season Three tracks Carol and Daryl as they continue their journey towards home and the ones they love. As they struggle to find their way back, the path takes them farther astray, leading them through distant lands with ever-changing and unfamiliar conditions as they witness the various effects of the Walker apocalypse.

Eduardo Noriega (The Devil’s Backbone, Vantage Point), Óscar Jaenada (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Hernán), and Alexandra Masangkay (The Platform, Valley of Shadows) will be joining the cast as series regulars for the third season. In addition, Candela Saitta (Máxima, Último primer día) and Hugo Arbués (Through My Window, Past Lies) are set for Season 3 in recurring roles. In addition, Stephen Merchant (The Office, The Outlaws) has joined the spinoff series’ cast.

The second season of AMC’s The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon stars Reedus, McBride, Charrier, Clémence Poésy, Louis Puech Scigliuzzi, Laika Blanc Francard, Romain Levi & Eriq Ebouaney. Back in November 2023, we learned that Manish Dayal (The Resident) had been cast as Ash, an engineer from Boston who moved to the family weekend house in Maine after the onset of the apocalypse. Ash lives by a strict schedule based mostly around his daily flights in a retrofitted single-engine plane and mysterious visitations to his backyard greenhouse. Showrunner David Zabel, Scott M. Gimple, Greg Nicotero, Angela Kang, Brian Bockrath, Daniel Percival, Jason Richman, and Steve Squillante join Reedus & McBride as executive producers.