AMC's hit post-apocalyptic horror drama "The Walking Dead" is based on the comic book series of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard. But in order to keep the viewers surprised, most especially those fans who also read the comics, there are times when showrunners opt to deviate from the original source.
"The Walking Dead's" executive producer, director and special effect makeup whiz Greg Nicotero recently told Yahoo! TV how they incorporate new ideas to the graphic novel to avoid spilling things for viewers.
"Well, the source material is fantastic," Nicotero said. "And you know, last season when The Governor (David Morrissey) attacked the prison... in the comic book, Andrea (Laurie Holden) dies in the attack from The Governor, but she's been dead for one season already on the show. And in the comics, The Governor decapitated Tyreese (Chad L. Coleman) instead of Hershel (Scott Wilson). So it's taking those iconic moments from the graphic novel and translating them."
"Sometimes we're faithful to the comic and sometimes we take some liberties," continued the 51-year-old four-time Primetime Emmy awardee. "The Lizzie-Mika story was in the comic book but was laid out a little bit differently, with different characters."
Nicotero said that fans could expect the same treatment in the upcoming Season 5 of the show. "We continue to mix it up a little bit so the people who do read the comic book feel like they're still getting their cake and eating it, too, but we change it up enough that it's still new and exciting and interesting," he revealed. "And I can definitely say that we continue to honor the graphic novel in original yet familiar ways in Season 5."
Meanwhile, stunt coordinator Monty Simons commended Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus and Danai Gurira's fight scene performances.
"Andrew is great with fights, the same goes for Norman," he said in a recent interview with AMC. But when asked to pick which "The Walking Dead character he thinks would make the best stunt actor, he answered: "It's not that she would be a better stunt person than the others, but I've always been intrigued by Michonne."
"Danai is not just an actor, she's an athlete and that really comes through in her character when it comes to the sword work," he gushed about the Zimbabwean-American actress.
Nicotero told Yahoo! TV that they are currently shooting Episode 8, which is the fifth season's midseason finale.
The first eight episodes of Season 5 is assumed to run uninterrupted, just like what they did last season, but there is still a possibility that the network might opt to air a two-hour episode and/or then decide to broadcast a rerun in one week, according to Wetpaint.
"The Walking Dead" Season 5 premieres on Oct. 12 at 9 p.m. on AMC.