Being cast on AMC‘s The Walking Dead comes with the understanding that the character you’re tasked with portraying might not be around a few episodes later. After all, the series has been built on the mantra of, “No one is safe.”
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It’s been five years since Shane Walsh actor Jon Bernthal was made fully aware of that mantra or, perhaps, invented it. As it turns out, this was the case from the very beginning and, in fact, was Bernthal’s preference.
Now gaining more fame for his role as the Punisher in Marvel’s Daredevil on Netflix, Bernthal opened up his time in the apocalypse.
“I knew going in,” Bernthal told IGN of Shane’s fate. “During the audition process, all the men they were looking at had to audition for both Rick and Shane, and I was very clear with [then showrunner] Frank [Darabont] that I wanted to audition for Shane.”
Side note: it needs to be pointed out that this means Rick Grimes actor Andrew Lincoln also auditioned for the part of Shane Walsh. The world would be a very different place had he landed the role but that audition tape must be laying around somewhere.
“That’s what I wanted, and [Darabont] said, ‘You know he’s not going to last…’ and I said, ‘That’s the character.’ The guy had a built-in beginning, middle and end, and often times you don’t get that as a character. I sort of prefer that. I loved knowing that he was going to die. I loved knowing that he was going to lose his mind. I loved being able to star in it, from the absolute opposite end of the spectrum — being the best friend possible and loving this man so much and knowing that I have to go to the place where he was going to go. I thought it was such a great opportunity and I’m super grateful to Frank Darabont for giving it to me.”
The role has since catapulted Bernthal’s career. In addition to the Punisher, which is also getting a self-titled series on Netflix, the Walking Dead alum has appeared alongside Leonardo DiCarpio in The Wolf of Wall Street, opposite Dwayne Johnson in Snitch, and with Brad Pitt in David Ayer’s Fury.
MORE WALKING DEAD: TWD Actor Teases Epic Return From Season 1 / FTWD Renewed For Season 4/ TWD F-Take Clips With Rick And Daryl / How Long Until New TWD? / Major Criticism Fixed For Season 8 / TWD Casting Two New Characters / FTWD Season 3 Trailer Is Packed With Intense Violence
The Walking Dead will return for its eighth season in October of 2017. The first trailer is expected to arrive at San Diego Comic Con in July. For complete coverage and insider info all off-season long, follow @BrandonDavisBD on Twitter.
