After more than a decade of undead jokes and spilled guts, AMC has officially wrapped production on the eleventh and final season of The Walking Dead.
“Today is the big day!” the show’s Twitter account confirmed Wednesday. “The shooting of #TheWalkingDead is coming to an end. It’s been an incredible 12 years and we hope all the amazing cast and crew have an amazing closing day. #TWDFamily forever!” In a follow-up tweetthe account added, “11 seasons, 12 years, 177 episodes, 1 amazing fanbase. Thank you #TWDFamily for joining us on this journey.”
Filming on the series finale, which has yet to be given a premiere date, was delayed slightly when cast member Norman Reedus (Daryl Dixon) suffered a mild concussion on set. Thankfully, the actor appeared to have fully healed in an Instagram video posted by Greg Nicotero, who started out as a visual effects and makeup designer on The Walking Dead before stepping up to the role of producer and director.
“Thanks for everything,” Reedus says to Nicotero. “It was a real pleasure.” The actor went on to joke that his brain is “shorted out” from not being able to wrap his head around the show, which is actually coming to an end. “I’ll be laying on the bathroom floor in tears with a martini.”
Reedus also independently released a behind-the-scenes video and photo taken with Melissa McBride (Carol) and Michael Rooker (who played Daryl’s brother Merle) in previous seasons. “That’s a wrap,” he wrote in the caption. “11 seasons 12 years. I’ve never been so done and it was an absolute blast. Thank you to everyone who took this ride with us and what a ride it was.”
Last night was celebrated with a blizzard of confetti captured on video by showrunner Angela Kang.
Lauren Cohan, who plays Maggie Greene, shared her own bittersweet feelings on Instagram, writing: “I have no words right now but I want to raise my trophy for the crew of The Walking Dead. Thanks. 11 seasons. My heart is full.”
Thankfully, the actress doesn’t have to say goodbye to her character just yet. While the Mothership series isn’t quite over for audiences, AMC has already confirmed that Maggie and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) will be directing a spin-off project set on the island of Manhattan.
“Lots of love on this show” tweeted Dean Morgan. “We will miss EVERYTHING.”
Ross Marquand, who plays Aaron, declared the final shoot “the end of an era”. Khary Payton (Ezekiel) chose a more poetic language and named it “the end of a nice ride.” Outspoken Michael James Shaw (Mercer) wrote, “F*** gonna miss that.”
“One last time…lots of love for my beloved #TWDFamily on the last day of shooting!” Writer/Producer LaToya Morgan exclaimed on Twitter. “What an incredible 12-year run. Forever honored to be part of this wonderful group of gifted people.”
Only two episodes remain until the next longer break. Season 11, Episode 15 (“Trust”) premieres this Sunday (April 3) at 9 p.m. EST.
