While The Walking Dead stars Andrew Lincoln and Jon Bernthal helped launch the AMC series to runaway success right from the start, casting for the lead roles could have gone much differently.In a behind-the-scenes featurette for the show, the audition videos for both characters have been revealed, including Bernthal originally auditioning for the part of Rick Grimes before the casting director felt the actor was a better fit for the antagonistic role of Shane Walsh.RELATED: The Walking Dead Debuts Whisperer War Final Showdown Trailer

Andrew Lincoln is the only one who could bring Rick Grimes to life.#GrimesLegacy#TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/HrrT0pXWus— Ezekiel Payton (@EzekielsPayton) August 30, 2020

Lincoln was cast much later in the process to find the series’ original protagonist, with the casting director approaching the actor’s agent after an extensive search. Even from the short audition video, the producers quickly knew they had found the perfect actor to fill the role.

While both Bernthal and Lincoln have since left the series, Bernthal made a brief guest appearance for Lincoln’s final episode on the main series in Season 9. Lincoln is slated to reprise his role as Rick Grimes in a trilogy of television movies that continue his story after being kidnapped by a mysterious organization in his final episodic appearance.

Airing Sunday, Oct. 4 on AMC, The Walking Dead Season 10 finale stars Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride, Josh McDermitt, Christian Serratos, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Seth Gilliam, Ross Marquand, Khary Payton and Cooper Andrews.