Thanks to showrunner David Zabel, hot on the heels of the season finale of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol, fans now have an idea of what they can expect with Season 3 and beyond. Premiering back in 2023, Daryl Dixon is the fifth spin-off in The Walking Dead franchise that began with the main series in 2010, and focuses on Norman Reedus’ Dixon as he traverses France, piecing together the origins of the zombie virus, how he got there, and his eventual reunion with his best friend, Carol (Melissa McBride).
With Season 3 of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon expected to premiere at some point in 2025, Zabel sat down with Collider to talk about the series’ future beyond its junior outing. So far, things have been running according to plan, with the first two seasons telling a 12-episode story arc. Should the season get renewed beyond the next one, he says that he’ll stick to that method, with Season 4 building on what came before. Beyond that? Well, your guess is as good as his.
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Thank goodness they changed it.
“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. If you ask me about Season 5, all bets are off. I have no idea about that.”
So far, the spin-off has been a resounding success, with some calling it the best Walking Dead content fans have been treated to in years, despite other fan favorites like Fear the Walking Dead and Dead City. Daryl Dixon holds a 72% rating overall on Rotten Tomatoes, with Season 1 Certified Fresh at 70%, and Season 2 sitting at a healthy 75%.
Daryl and Carol Head to Spain in the Season 3 Teaser
The Book of Carol finale saw Daryl fulfilling the promise he made to Clémence Poésy’s character of Isabelle before she died, getting her nephew, Laurent, out of Paris and onto a plane. Unfortunately, it was only able to carry three people (including the pilot), and being the gentleman he is, Dixon sacrificed his seat to Carol, but the joke was on him. There was no way she was leaving him again after the pair were just reunited, so they both stayed behind, opting to make the 50km trek through the Chunnel on their way to Englund.
It was quickly followed by a Season 3 teaser (seen above), which showed fans what they can expect when the series returns next year. Kicking off with Daryl and Carol being led through the post-apocalyptic streets of London by Stephen Merchant – who will be making his Walking Dead debut in 2025 – the brief clip shows everything from a boat sailing across the vast ocean, to the pair in Spain, where the majority of the season is expected to take place. “I was ready to give up,” Daryl says. “I thought it was all over.” To that, Carol responded, “You and me both.” Thankfully, they were wrong, and things appear to be far from over for the duo.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon was renewed for a third season two months ahead of the premiere of Season 2, so it will most likely still be a little while before we get official confirmation on the fate of the series beyond next year. With it becoming the success it has, though, it would make sense for AMC to keep it around, so here’s hoping that Zabel and company at least get to finish the next 12-episode arc which will carry it into 2026.
- Release Date
- October 1, 2023
- Cast
- Norman Reedus , Clemence Poesy , Louis Puech Scigliuzzi , Laïka Blanc-Francard , Anne Charrier , Romain Levi , Melissa McBride , Joel de la Fuente , Adam Nagaitis , Eriq Ebouaney , Tristan Zanchi , François Delaive , Maxime Lefrançois , Lukerya Ilyashenko , Catherine Arditi , Hugo Dillon
- Seasons
- 2