The Walking Dead Actor Cast Thanks To Stephen King

By Erika Hanson | Published

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It’s always interesting to learn about how our favorite actors landed their most iconic roles. Some celebrities had to work hard to land the part, only finally getting the job thanks to other rejections. And then there are those like Melissa McBride, who didn’t even have to audition for Carol in The Walking Dead, thanks to her previous work in Stephen King’s The Mist.

The Mist Was Her Audition

The 59-year-old actress revealed her TWD casting story in an old interview with The Hollywood Reporter. Admitting that she was simply handed the role, Melissa McBride called her part in the 2007 sci-fi horror film The Mist – an adaptation of one of Stephen King’s most iconic stories – her audition for the role.

Melissa McBride didn’t have a large role in The Mist, but clearly, it left an impact on Frank Darabont – the movie’s director who went on to develop and executive produce the first season of The Walking Dead.

The Nameless Mother In The Mist Is A Lot Like Carol

In The Mist, McBride plays a nameless mother. The movie centers around a group of strangers who hunker down in a grocery store after a strange mist shrouding deadly creatures covers the town. 

Melissa Mcbride’s character in The Mist is a lot like Carol in The Walking Dead. Worried because she left her children at home, she eventually leaves the safety of the store in a desperate attempt to get back to her family. She is later seen at the end of the film with her two children.

Melissa McBride Never Thought Carol Would Last This Long

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The Walking Dead star says that Darabont reached out to her and specifically asked if she was interested in playing Carol. Melissa McBride knew nothing about the famed comic book series but said yes anyway. At the time, she knew little about her role, or whether she would be killed off quickly.

However, McBride never would have guessed that the role would last as long as it did, continuing even today.

Carol Is Back In The Daryl Dixon Series

The Walking Dead released its first episode 14 years ago. Melissa McBride is the only female actress to appear in each and every season of the show. Although the series ended two years ago, the actress is back for more in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon—The Book of Carol

As the fifth spinoff in the TWD franchise, the second season of the Daryl Dixon spinoff aired its first episode on September 29. This season will see Daryl and Carol reunite, as Melissa McBride’s character goes on a journey to find her lost friend. 

Book Of Carol Reception

Critics are loving the series so far, giving it an 82 percent Tomatometer, while fan reactions are a bit mixed, coming in at a 60 percent Popcornmeter.

Critics love the series because, above all else, it’s reuniting everyone’s favorite characters from The Walking Dead. The harshest audience reviews lambasted the show for its lack of story, calling it a predictable, overplayed tale of TWD reunions.

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