'The Walking Dead' Season 8 Premiere Cut An F-Word From Rick Grimes

Despite having permission to use the F-word twice per season, The Walking Dead stripped Rick [...]

Despite having permission to use the F-word twice per season, The Walking Dead stripped Rick Grimes of an epic first use of the word during a broadcast in the Season 8 premiere.

Spoilers for The Walking Dead Season 8 premiere follow.

In the moments which saw Rick Grimes counting down to unload his gun on Negan and the Sanctuary, the character decided not to bring the clock to zero before pulling the trigger. Instead, he took aim at the villain who has caused him and his group great pain and unleashed an entire clip. During an exclusive interview with ComicBook.com, Rick actor Andrew Lincoln revealed that he spewed the words "F--- it!" in every take but one while bringing the scene to life.

"I only did one take where I didn't swear on the countdown," Lincoln said. "I just went, '10, 9, 8, 7.. Ah, f--- it,' and then started shooting. That must be the only take that I didn't swear so I think that it's important everybody knows that, in my head, I was saying 'F--- it!' just as I fired the gun at Negan. With every shot."

As it turns out upon looking back at the episode, a take with Lincoln using the forbidden word was used in the premiere episode but the audio was removed.

During an episode of After the Dead on The Walking Dead on ComicBook.com's Facebook page immediately following The Walking Dead's episode on Sunday night, executive producer and director of Episode 100 Greg Nicotero revealed the reason for the F-word's absence in the scene.

"The moment that Andy's talking about is when [Rick] says to Negan, 'Oh, you're gonna make me count?' And the he goes, '10, 9, 8, 7,' and then he just goes, 'Ah, F it!' Cocks the gun and opens fire on Negan and the group," Nicotero explained. "We had finished mixing this episode before the F-takes were approved by AMC. Otherwise, that would've been the perfect spot to put it in."

The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9 pm ET on AMC. For complete coverage and insider info all season long, follow @BrandonDavisBD on Twitter.

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