Recasting The Walking Dead if The Series Started Today

In 2003, the world of comics was flipped upside down when the first issue of Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead hit the shelves. A few months later, the comic became legendary when it made the decision to kill off a major character, just six issues in.

By the time the AMC series debuted in 2010, there was already a massive following of dedicated fans. The series also had seven years of story to transfer to television, so the source material was endless.

The show is now entering its seventh season, and it couldn’t be more popular. The Walking Dead fans reach into every corner of the globe, and their passion has helped the series become one of the most-watched in history.

There isn’t a greater success story in all of televsion than The Walking Dead, but what if AMC had waited a few more years to give it the greenlight?

What if, instead of season seven, this October was premiering the first episode of the zombie drama? The cast would look a lot different, that’s for sure.

Let’s be clear here, the current cast of The Walking Dead couldn’t be any better. This article isn’t saying other actors should take the parts, rather, how would this ensemble look if it were cast in 2016 instead.

This cast would have portrayed these characters completely different from the versions we know and love, but they could still create wonderful adaptations of the comic characters.

Click through the slideshow to see who we would cast in The Walking Dead if it were being produced today.

Rick – Anson Mount

Rick is a difficult character to cast, since he encompasses two very different brands of character. He’s the swift justice of the comic series, but he also plays the role of sacrificial father. Not many could pull this role off, but Anson Mount would shine if given the opportunity.

As the star of the AMC period drama, Hell On Wheels, Anson showed that he can have a soft heart hiding behind a vindictive demeanor. His character was in charge of overseeing the construction of the Trans-continental Railroad, and he developed a unique brand of leadership over five seasons.

Sometimes, he was called on to be the ruthless killer, protecting his assets by any means necessary. Other times, he was a loving, and emotionally unstable father. Sounds a lot like Rick Grimes.

Anson Mount also looks the part. Rick is a strong man, but his stature doesn’t shout it – the way he carries himself projects that strength.

Andrew Lincoln was the perfect Rick Grimes, but Anson Mount could excel in the role as well.

Lori – Maggie Siff

If anyone is prepared to portray a strong mother, raising her children in a dark and disturbing world, it’s Maggie Siff.

In her role as Tara, on Sons of Anarchy, Siff had to fight her way through parenthood, amidst gang violence and motorcycle culture. Often times the character would seem to be softening in a difficult moment, only to surprise you with a level of rage and vengence that you never expected.

Like Rick, Lori is a character that requires a delicate balance. In order to play the part correctly, an actress needs to find a way to toe that line, while never losing her sanity in the process.

Maggie Siff would have no trouble bringing Lori to life, and she would make an excellent scene partner to Anson Mount.

Carl – Noah Schnapp

Finding a great child actor is difficult, but it’s even more difficult to find one that will grow into a character as they develop themselves. The growing is unpredictable, but Noah Schnapp definitely has the talent.

Noah has become well-known for his role as Will Byers on the Netflix hit series, Stranger Things.

While his character was missing for a large part of the series, he easily stole the scenes where he was featured.

The other child actors in the series were also great, and any one of them could easily portray Carl. Schnapp gets the edge, however, for having nailed the look of Carl Grimes without even trying.

 

Shane – Pedro Pascal

Shane needs to be hot-headed, tactical, and extremely rough around the edges. The actor playing Shane must be one who can turn from hot to cold seamlessly, and who can make you believe in his volitile demeanor. Through all of that, though, you still have to find him unnervingly likable.

All that being said, Pedro Pascal is perfect for the role.

Best known for his roles as Javier on Narcos, and Oberyn Martell on Game of Thrones, Pascal consistently exhibits each of Shane’s biggest traits. He angers easily, his rage is beyond frightening, but he still manages to make audiences fall in love with his tough-guy persona.

Pascal may not look much like Shane, from the comics or the show, but his talents far outweigh his style. Shane would look a bit different than we’re used to, but it would be a welcomed change.

Andrea – Claire Danes

While Andrea was important to the show, she is far more vital to the comic series. With that in mind, Andrea would need to be portrayed by a talented actress that could give the character longevity. No stranger to a long-running series, Claire Danes would dominate the role if given the chance.

After her emergence as a child star, Claire Danes has become well-respected, and highly recognized, for her starring role in Homeland. She plays Carrie, a damaged, yet lethal, CIA operative. The character requires her to bring her A-game emotionally, and still prove she can kick-ass in the process.

In order to play Andrea, those same talents are required. Andrea deals with the heaviest losses of all of the comic characters, but she uses that pain to turn in to one of the deadliest shooters in the series.

Danes would make for a great Andrea, and she would work very well opposite Anson Mount when she and Rick start to become more intimate.

Morgan – Harold Perrineau

 

Just like in the show, the comic version of Morgan only appeared for the first issue. After Rick left him and his son, the man didn’t reappear to the rest of the group for some time.

Even though his season one role would only be small, the character requires an extremely talented actor to pack the emotional punch. Lennie James was perfect for the job, but Harold Perrineau could do just as well.

Having played a desperate father and grieving man on Lost, Perrineau knows what it takes to capture Morgan’s inner turmoil. His biggest scene, the one where he tries to shoot his wife, is one of the most powerful of the show’s first season, and Harold could nail the emotions of the moment.

 

Dale – Mandy Pitinkin

Dale is the soft-spoken voice of reason for Rick for a long time in the comics, and he defines his age rather than letting it define him. Mindy Pitinkin has done all of that, and then some, during his time on Homeland.

In addition to his expierence portraying a Dale-like character, Pitinkin will also be able to utilize his overall acting experience while on the set. Since his famous role in The Princess Bride, Mandy Pitinkin has been all over Hollywood.

This experience will help Pitinkin to lead the cast on-camera, and off.

Mandy also has a great report with Claire Danes, as they star alongside each other on Homeland. Given Dale and Andrea’s long-running relationship, this kind of chemsitry would be vital to the show.

Carol – Sarah Paulson

On the show, Carol is a strong, sometimes crazy, woman who evolved to a powerful figure from an abusive past. In the comics, Carol never seemed to leave that fragile state, and died before the group ever left the prison.

The change to Carol’s character is one of the best decision the series has ever made, and only the most incredible actress could fill the shoes of Melissa McBride.

Sarah Paulson has stood out among TV’s elite for her performances on American Horror Story, and could take the role of Carol even further. She consistently steals the show on the anthology series year after year, and could have fans reeling during some of Carol’s most powerful moments. She also has a look that blends both of the current iterations of the character.

Glenn – Ryan Potter

When The Walking Dead began, Glenn was a young pizza delivery boy with an appetite for adventure. He only became the battle-hardened veteran we know today as his character progressed throughout the series.

Ryan Potter has the ability to bring that youthful energy back to the origins of the character, and his ceiling as an actor is incredibly high.

Having voiced Hiro in Big Hero 6, Potter knows how to manipulate his voice to match a stressful situation. He’s also a trained martial artist who could do an amazing job with some of Glenn’s more acrobatic scenes.

You may notice that characters like Daryl, T-Dog, and Merle were absent from this list. This isn’t because the characters aren’t important, but they were missing from the comic series entirely. The current showrunners made the decision to add them back in 2010, but the same may not be true today.

If we had to pick, however, we’d take Paul Anderson as Daryl, Kim Coates as Merle, and Rockmund Dunbar as T-Dog.

What did you think of these casting decisions? Who would you select as the season one characters? Let us know!