Melissa McBride Rejoins ‘Walking Dead’ Spinoff ‘Daryl Dixon’

Melissa McBride is returning to the world of The Walking Dead.

The actress has signed on as a series regular for season two of the franchise’s latest spinoff series, Daryl Dixon, AMC announced Thursday at New York Comic-Con.

McBride, who played the role of Carol Peletier in all 11 seasons of the flagship series, was originally poised to star opposite Norman Reedus’ Daryl in the spinoff but dropped out in April 2022 after the drama moved its filming location to Europe.

The deal reunites two of The Walking Dead’s biggest fan favorites, as Carol and Daryl became one of the show’s most beloved pairings. McBride’s first appearance in Daryl Dixon will be in the Oct. 15 season one finale, which was screened Thursday at NYCC.

“I’ve known there was much more to be told of Carol’s story as I felt her so unsettled when we last saw her, as she watched her best friend, Daryl, ride away,” McBride said in a statement Thursday. “Apart or (hopefully!) together, their stories run deep, and I’m so excited to continue Carol’s journey here. This team of storytellers have done amazing work to land these two established characters in an entirely new world to them, and I’m loving the discoveries!”

Daryl Dixon is on track to become AMC’s most viewed single series on streaming platform AMC+. The show ranks as a top 15 cable drama for the year. Season two, which will now be titled The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon — The Book of Carol — is currently in production in France for a premiere in 2024.

Reedus, McBride, Clémence Poésy, Louis Puech Scigliuzzi, Laika Blanc Francard, Anne Charrier, Romain Levi and Eriq Ebouaney star in the series. It is exec produced by showrunner David Zabel, franchise captain Scott M. Gimple, Reedus, McBride, Greg Nicotero, former showrunner Angela Kang, Brian Bockrath, Daniel Percival, Jason Richman and Steve Squillante.

AMC also announced that the Andrew Lincoln (Rick) and Danai Gurira (Michonne) limited series, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, will premiere in 2024 with Pollyanna McIntosh reprising her role as Jasis. She will be joined by Terry O’Quinn and Matt Jeffries as Beale and Nat, respectively. Lesley-Ann Brandt also is in the cast. Here’s the latest teaser.