'The Walking Dead' cast tease the smarter zombies you'll see on the show's final episodes: 'You got walkers that are running and doing backflips'

Kirsten AcunaSep 29, 2022, 22:11 IST

Ross Marquand and other "TWD" cast told Insider that they've been ready for some faster zombies to give them more of a challenge.Josh Stringer/AMC

Smarter zombies will be shown on the final episodes of "The Walking Dead."
Showrunner Angela Kang said it's meant to be a throwback to walkers seen on season one.

The final eight episodes of "The Walking Dead" will introduce a smarter breed of zombie that's been hinted at in the larger "TWD" universe, one which can "climb walls and open doors."

In July, at San Diego Comic-Con, showrunner Angela Kang teased that these variant walkers are a nod to zombies that were previously seen on the show's first season, ones who picked up rocks and tried to open doors.

What will these smarter zombies look like and how will they come into play?

Since these walkers don't appear, at least obviously, on the next two episodes that we previewed ahead of the show's return to AMC and AMC+ on October 2, Insider asked some of the "TWD" cast recently over Zoom interviews if they could tease what we can expect from these smarter, possibly faster members of the undead.

No one wanted to say too much, but here's what everyone told us of their reaction to the addition of these newer walkers.

Nadia Hilker teased that things are going to get "weird."

Nadia Hilker has played Magna since season nine of "TWD."Jace Downs/AMC

"I think it makes everything more exciting," Hilker, who has played Magna since season nine, told Insider of her reaction to these variant walkers.

"I don't wanna spoil anything, so it's hard to dive in deeper, but we all evolve, so why shouldn't the walkers evolve? I know we're getting a lot of weird stuff to see."

I think it makes everything more exciting, Hilker, who has played Magna since season nine, told Insider of her reaction to these variant walkers.

I don't wanna spoil anything, so it's hard to dive in deeper, but we all evolve, so why shouldn't the walkers evolve? I know we're getting a lot of weird stuff to see.

Josh McDermitt teased that bringing the show back to its roots will up the stakes and hints that things will get "a lot more dangerous."

Josh McDermitt has played Eugene Porter since season four of "TWD."Gene Page/AMC

"It really ups the stakes for us. I thought it was a great way to bring back the walkers in the first few episodes," McDermitt, who has played Eugene since season four, told Insider.

"When I first started watching the show, I didn't really know any of the rules of the zombie world. I may have peripherally known that you had to stab them in the head, but to see one of those first walkers that Rick encounters pick up the teddy bear and to see Morgan's wife try the door handle when she's trying to get in, that scared the shit out of me," McDermitt said of his reaction to some of the more animated zombies on season one.

McDermitt added: "I had heard people say, 'Well, that's not how most walkers are, but "The Walking Dead" is doing its own thing. Whatever rules they create, that's how it's gonna be.' I just love that. We've been able to bring that back. It ups the stakes. It makes things a lot more dangerous."

It really ups the stakes for us. I thought it was a great way to bring back the walkers in the first few episodes, McDermitt, who has played Eugene since season four, told Insider.

When I first started watching the show, I didn't really know any of the rules of the zombie world. I may have peripherally known that you had to stab them in the head, but to see one of those first walkers that Rick encounters pick up the teddy bear and to see Morgan's wife try the door handle when she's trying to get in, that scared the shit out of me, McDermitt said of his reaction to some of the more animated zombies on season one.

McDermitt added: I had heard people say, 'Well, that's not how most walkers are, but The Walking Dead is doing its own thing. Whatever rules they create, that's how it's gonna be.' I just love that. We've been able to bring that back. It ups the stakes. It makes things a lot more dangerous.

Ross Marquand said he's excited for the variant walkers because he's always been a fan of "28 Days Later," hinting that we may see some zombies chasing him down.

Ross Marquand's Aaron is seen with a slower walker on season 11, episode five of "TWD."Josh Stringer/AMC

"At this point in the series, everyone has probably encountered some variation of these smart walkers, but they've just not really talked about as much," Marquand, who has played Aaron since season five, told Insider about his reaction to the show's smarter zombies.

Speaking of the show's executive producer and special effects guru, Marquand added, "I know that Greg Nicotero has always been a zombie purest. He likes the slow-moving, kind of ambling walker, but I'm personally very excited about this development because I've always been a fan of '28 Days Later' zombies where they're like running at you full tilt."

At this point in the series, everyone has probably encountered some variation of these smart walkers, but they've just not really talked about as much, Marquand, who has played Aaron since season five, told Insider about his reaction to the show's smarter zombies.

Speaking of the show's executive producer and special effects guru, Marquand added, I know that Greg Nicotero has always been a zombie purest. He likes the slow-moving, kind of ambling walker, but I'm personally very excited about this development because I've always been a fan of '28 Days Later' zombies where they're like running at you full tilt.

Lauren Ridloff also teased that this probably hasn't been the first time the survivors have handled smarter zombies.

Connie has handled her fair share of walkers masterfully on "TWD."Jace Downs/AMC

"I imagine it's not a new experience for Connie or any of the other survivors thus far because it's a throwback, as you mentioned to the first season, when the walkers were newer and smarter and faster," Ridloff, who has played fan-favorite Connie on the series since season nine, told Insider.

"Over the years, it seems like they've slowed down — they're getting older and softer and easier to handle — and I like that throwback to the first season," Ridloff continued, adding that she believes Connie would fare well against these variant walkers.

"Connie probably would just handle those walkers the same way she did as she started out at the beginning of the apocalypse," she said.

I imagine it's not a new experience for Connie or any of the other survivors thus far because it's a throwback, as you mentioned to the first season, when the walkers were newer and smarter and faster, Ridloff, who has played fan-favorite Connie on the series since season nine, told Insider.

Over the years, it seems like they've slowed down — they're getting older and softer and easier to handle — and I like that throwback to the first season, Ridloff continued, adding that she believes Connie would fare well against these variant walkers.

Connie probably would just handle those walkers the same way she did as she started out at the beginning of the apocalypse, she said.

Seth Gilliam seemed the most excited for any type of faster-moving zombie after killing slow ones for years.

Seth Gilliam suggests that cutting up walkers has been a bit too easy for them these days.AMC

"It sounds like they'd be more fun to kill. Give you a little more fight, little something to do," Gilliam said of the variant walkers, adding that they'd finally give Father Gabriel a bit more of a challenge than the zombies they've been dealing with for the past decade.

It sounds like they'd be more fun to kill. Give you a little more fight, little something to do, Gilliam said of the variant walkers, adding that they'd finally give Father Gabriel a bit more of a challenge than the zombies they've been dealing with for the past decade.

Angel Theory shared in that excitement, but also teased we'll see these zombies running "and doing backflips."

Is Kelly about to leave someone in the dust on the final episodes?Jace Downs/AMC

In a separate interview, Angel Theory told Insider that she was also excited about the smarter walkers on the show's final episodes for the same reason as Gilliam.

"The normal walkers, they're just slow," Theory, who has played Kelly since season nine, said. "I feel like you can kill a few of them. Now, we have more of a challenge. We have to run faster and really focus on trying to survive now. Now, you have to be quick-witted."

Theory hinted that someone may get left in the dust if the smarter zombies are chasing a few survivors.

"If someone is hurt, if that's the case, you might have to leave them behind because now you got walkers that are running and doing backflips and stuff," Theory said.

Are we about to see zombies doing backflips?

You can follow along with our "TWD" coverage here.

In a separate interview, Angel Theory told Insider that she was also excited about the smarter walkers on the show's final episodes for the same reason as Gilliam.

The normal walkers, they're just slow, Theory, who has played Kelly since season nine, said. I feel like you can kill a few of them. Now, we have more of a challenge. We have to run faster and really focus on trying to survive now. Now, you have to be quick-witted.

Theory hinted that someone may get left in the dust if the smarter zombies are chasing a few survivors.

If someone is hurt, if that's the case, you might have to leave them behind because now you got walkers that are running and doing backflips and stuff, Theory said.