Sam Witwer on Frank Darabont & 'The Walking Dead'

[@HarrierDubois]

I need to go to a parallel universe where The Walking Dead was run by Frank Darabont for its entire run.

[@TheNerdCinema]

Should have been an HBO project too

[@TheNerdCinema]

@Azmi Rafian lol, wut? I can't understand a word.

[@doggylover108]

@Heaven Hazard Games HBO would not have cut his budget for starters. And the show would be a lot more authentic ( I.e them having to cut all the f bombs out of Negan’s intro speech)

[@Dragon-Slay3r]

👍💩😲😋

[@BloodyFlowerFilms]

This entire video had me shaking my head and 100% agreeing with Witwer. AMC missed out on such a great thing. I can't believe this didn't become public. People would be outraged! Witwer you are epic!

[@KenFan4life]

"Black Hawk Down... with zombies." That'd make sooo much damn money.

[@Salad-in]

Frank could totally pitch that idea to some other studio and get it greenlit in a heartbeat

[@babywolf4238]

That sounds like a WWZ sequel.

[@barcalona55]

they really fired the dude that directed Shawshank redemption

[@mjt1583]

Such a big mistake

[@JacobMichaelDavidBenson]

Still fu*king insane.

[@Shigization]

Not only is Sam Witwer good looking, talented, and passionate about his work, he also has kept his integrity. I'm glad there are still people like this around to be role models for our children.

[@jqyhlmnp]

True... but to be fair, not all the children of the world can be good looking, because beauty is in the eye of the beholder

[@aphoticphoton]

Isnt sam and freddie prinze jr doing a podcast now? :O

[@vinniejones4967]

I’m literally tryna find any of his work after watching this. Any recommendations? I’m way ahead of you on Supernatural.

[@ifallintofantasy]

@@vinniejones4967 What are you after? Sam Witwer's work?

[@OhHeBustin]

@@vinniejones4967 mist bro

[@DH-pz7bc]

Imagine if AMC had its way with Breaking Bad. Walter and Jesse would still be cooking meth in that RV for 20 seasons.

[@billross9132]

​@@thegoodstuff3148AMC doesn't own BB, Sony does and thank god otherwise AMC would've butchered it to hell

[@popermen694]

@@billross9132yup. Breaking Bad was saved by a third party who had trust in the creator. Thank god.

[@thepilatekid6578]

Wow what a loyal, eloquent guy. You can tell frank darabont's work comes from love and creativity amc's greed is cold and soulless

[@olechristianhenne6583]

The show has changed alot and not moving

[@revamp2672]

@@olechristianhenne6583 years now the show blows.

[@KatalistProductionsKozzySasha]

Frank Darabont is so awesome, Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, The Mist and Season 1 of The Walking Dead are all awesome.

[@turtletank4784]

It's crazy how stepped over of a director Frank Darabont is. He is extremely talented and completely overlooked it's shocking.

[@Katio888]

In addition to the budget cuts, I did see someone else said Robert Kirkman had a problem with Darabont because he was taking a few liberties with characters and storylines ie adding Daryl and Merle. But that’s what an “adaptation” is. It’s not a carbon copy. And I think Mr Darabont would know that better than anyone when you look at his resume of adaptations.

[@floodlitworld]

Kirkman's comics are crap. All he knows how to do are one-note characters and the occasional shocking moment. No wonder the show became so similar to that if he ended up taking more creative control.

[@themetalsandman9231]

@@villanelle2444 What are you fucking talking about. He's basically both the comics and show is fucking bad. And I agree, just because Carl doesn't make it any better. The show was so good the first season, and look at it. Guarantee if Frank if was still working on the show. The show would have been way better than the comics.

[@ChicoDusty]

Ohhhh shit just had a mini epiphany, I always wondered why the revisit of Morgan's character in season 3 was so shitty. You could tell Frank was setting up the reunion very nicely with rick checking his radio every day at dawn. The Morgan character deserved more than a 1 one episode revisit and to be made crazy.

[@michaelyanqui1065]

DUMB, that episode was awesome, and where it's going is more accurate to the comics

[@stannisuncle7677]

Michael Yanqui The idea is to not flat out go along with the comics

[@14Schofield]

Ricky Cross They aren't. Many things have changed. Kirkman has even stated that some of the decisions they've made on the show he wish he'd made with the comics. Prime example is Rick's hand. He also likes what they've done with Carol. Granted, he helps them, but still.

[@scparker6893]

@@michaelyanqui1065 No it wasnt. It was another Scott Pimple episode.

[@gumbiman3350]

I love how much respect he has for him.

[@jessicahays6086]

Now I'm upset from all those amazing ideas we missed out on. I still love the show but I have a different view of AMC. Thanks for posting this

[@DrayWillSlay]

Same...

[@mr.oddball.]

1 season was awesome but after that you can tell that its not the same people or the same drive behind it

[@miniclip1162]

exactly. and in the end, by trying to save a quick buck, they ended up losing a lot more money.

[@olechristianhenne6583]

@@miniclip1162 most ppl do that

[@scparker6893]

yes it was actually good had unique direction and writing behind it and look at the shit show it is now

[@_jay_6132]

Honestly pains me to know we never got to see frank darabonts visions come to life

[@PlayerVid]

I hate all this shit because it sounds sooo much better then what TWD has become.

[@craftalaser]

Playervid ZeroZeroFour TWD would've been fucking immaculate had that group of money-grubbing cunts who hide behind a logo that is AMC not canned Darabont. It sickens me to my core.

[@kaijucifer3544]

Playervid ZeroZeroFour I agree, but I am very satisfied with the show right now, Negan is Legendary.

[@miniclip1162]

it's funny but them wanting to save a buck while lose some creative license sounds like you are making more money, in the long haul you would make more, much much more by just keeping creative intergerty. that one episode would have made them a ton of cash. i stopped watching after season 2. season 1 felt great, season 2 felt alright and mid season 3 i was done. Now i know why. I can smell corporate greed from miles away.

[@heriksalvadorianreacts6646]

Galaxeus negan is lame. And a psycho what a example you have for your life. What are you a maniatic in process.? XDDD

[@gamevoice109]

Yep Darabont had a more realistic feel when adapting the comic. Now it's just like a action B-movie with lots of over the top fight scenes etc

[@user-ce6eg3wo8h]

I fr always get sad watching the 1st season and just always think “what if”. This show could’ve been so much more

[@Sdwndr27]

Damn. This would have been so good. I never knew he was the zombie in the tank. Having the prequel to go with that would have been nice...

[@willmac623]

TWD has sucked since Darabont was forced out. Execs fuck every thing up. *Added: Hope Darabont gets a boat load of cash in his lawsuit.

[@rickgrimes2056]

Will Mac I wish he could come back

[@lukerose384]

While I agree that Darabont was the best showrunner, Glen Mazzara who did season 2 & 3 was great.

[@rickgrimes2056]

***** yeah Scott Gimple sucks

[@scparker6893]

@@lukerose384 Glenn Mazzara is one of the worst showrunners they ever had

[@whisk-e-y_nomad]

200 million!!!!!!!!

[@Real_Boye]

This should have over a million views...

[@TheNerdProblems]

its funny because all of that would have made the show MUCH better. The show is literally about nothing now.. and with no back story.

[@Krosstic]

Ky I mean...Negan is pretty good but other than that.

[@heyjoji1954]

@Millennial Falcon Negan definitely has I mean he should’ve just honestly died but noooo Rick is the better person yada yada

[@Sadaaaaf]

The show is good but it would’ve been better

[@Splattercat]

Mad respect for Sam Witwer. I managed to actually have a conversation with him at his autograph signing at Fan Expo Canada last week. Awesome guy. Seriously. When the "handlers" have to push you along because Sam is having such a great time just having a conversation with people about being a hardcore board/RPG gamer or working with Corey Burton because he notices you have Shockwave on your shirt... The guy is an amazing human being. All I can say. :)

[@rm5537]

the show would have been infinitely better if they showed the fall of atlanta. the show is practically about nothing now...there's no soul. its aimless.

[@thelivingsteel]

I'd heard there were a lot of behind the scenes issues going on back when season 2 aired (I believe Jeffrey DeMunn was fired for speaking against the treatment of Darabont?) but it's just depressing to hear about all the opportunities that were missed, the stories left untold, and the treatment of the guy who put in such effort to make this show a success. I love the show and have really enjoyed all the seasons so far, but I also really wish we'd got to see the way it would've gone with Frank in charge.

[@jonnoweb]

angelofashes I've always wanted to see Frank Darabont's original ideas. I'd like to find out the rest of his ideas whether it be the anthology episodes or the main story. I want to know what he had planned before he got fired.

[@dstacyify]

I'm pretty sure Jeffrey DeMunn and Laurie Holden (Andrea) were both actors who have worked with Darabont in the past and who were handpicked by him for their roles because of that. But in DeMunn's case he wasn't fired. He's talked about this before, he requested to be killed off the show in season 2 because he was angry with AMC about Darabont's firing (despite the fact that Dale's arc goes further in the comics). In Laurie's case the horrific way her character was written in season 3 could've been AMC trying to phase her out of the show more slowly due to her ties to Darabont. Comic Andrea could not have been more different from the way Andrea was portrayed in the show (they basically gave her role to Michonne instead).

[@ShakaCthulu]

And now AMC is doing exactly what Frank wanted to do with this prequel episode in Tales Of The Walking Dead, except doing it poorly. The quality of The Walking Dead franchise would be so much better if it stayed in Frank’s hands.

[@billross9132]

There's also no direction. There's no clear creative mind behind all the shows making it inconsistent, which is why marvel and other AMC shows like BB r doing well cause they actually had a dude with a general idea and standard

[@infectionlabs5337]

11 years later, after Frank was fired, by these sociopaths of AMC ... TWD after the second season became a series without direction, which the company took from its creator and showrunner, transforming a series that could be the best series the world, in a series to suck money. we're in season 11, and the show still sucks ... I miss frank a lot ... because he knew what he was doing and what direction this great series was going to take, towards him. I see a video and I think: how 1 men so creative and motivated lost everything just because a company wanted more money. it could have become something gigantic ... and it became gigantic shit, controlled by vampires.

[@elijahb30]

How did the show not have direction it was following the comics and many people consider season 4/5 to be the best season and Frank had nothing to do with them

[@OhHeBustin]

@Clementine i don't know why you are stupid.

[@krispywhisper8276]

@GrimesCRM All those seem like positives to me

[@krispywhisper8276]

@GrimesCRM Rick: no Judith: yes

[@krispywhisper8276]

@GrimesCRM because she died in the comics and that's the storyline i prefer. Kirkman himself advocated for her to get killed off in the show several times, but the network wouldn't allow a baby to die. She was only kept alive due to censorship, not because there was potential seen in her character. That's why the writers often forgot about her for long periods at a time while she was still a baby.

[@AkaThePhoenix]

Even though The Walking Dead (TV Show) Died with Frank Darabont in my opinion. Gotta say. Love the Cyberdyne shirt.

[@xanoft5047]

I never knew that Deacon St. John got shot by Rick Grimes in the pilot episode. That's pretty fuckin' cool.

[@carterf3585]

Well this explains why the show became a confused mess after Season 1

[@Nour787]

The walking dead could have went right but ended up going left. Two paths. And amc choose the wrong path. I'm with Frank!

[@rloul1]

This is terrible. Frank Darabont has made some of the greatest movies in cinematic history ie Shawshank Redemption, the Green Mile and the underrated the Mist. For AMC to just shit on all that talent and screw him over. No wonder the show is such shit now

[@jackmarshall3255]

Well I like season 10 but you can feel the difference in the show when he left

[@Psilocybin77]

Admittedly I didn’t like The Mist when I first saw it. About a year later I watched it again, and I have no idea who watched it the first time. I love that movie, especially after reading the Stephen King short story it’s based on. I think it’s more recognized thankfully. Shawshank took time to find an audience and maybe that’s just the Darabont way LOL.

[@til_thasmokeclearz853]

this is the most heart breaking shit ever

[@AnteroX1234]

I remember watching this video when it came out and it always gave me a sense of relief to think of the possibility of the show changing for the better thanks to the truth being out there and all the lawsuits that followed. Nothing ever changed for the better and the show is getting cancelled because it lost the majority of its viewership. Also it's really sad that this video barely reached 140k people.

[@paralleleagle7293]

Fire the guy that fired frank Darrabont.

[@dstacyify]

Pretty sure most everybody at AMC at the time was involved in that decision unfortunately.

[@skyrimwarrior]

At 2:24, who was Sam talking about, well it could have only been one person that Meryl meets after he lost his hand, and that person was the Governor. That's who Frank was gonna focus on in Season 2, and that was introducing the Governor in season 2.

[@urdnotstark8270]

Damn. Hollywood needs more people like Darabount.

[@Psilocybin77]

This is why we can’t have nice things. Actual artists like Frank Darabont aren’t allowed to fulfill their vision because studio execs think they know better. I understand risk analysis in these decisions, but it’s FRANK DARABONT!!!!!

[@RogueScholarBlue]

Again, Witwer shows just how awesome a guy he is. It was outstanding of him to risk AMC's ire (sadly, those Douche Hats have a long reach in the Industry) by speaking out more candidly then anyone else at this point about how disgusting AMC's handling of this hit series (past tense now?) and the people working on it. What they did to Darabont just astounds me. I mean, he's a respected director, writer, and producer and they crapped on him. For what? A 34% budget cut. They're the new FOX.

[@JaXXTroNaut]

Just seeing this in 2023, but as Sam was explaining how he ended up in the tank, my jaw dropped. That would’ve been amazing to watch. I’ve always thought the firing of Barabont, is what really killed The Walking Dead..

[@BackAlleyKnifeFighter]

First saw Sam in the Force Unleashed games and have been a fan ever since. It would've been awesome if they made that pre-sequel about his character. TWD would still be amazing with Frank steering the ship.

[@MADK34]

The show was never the same after season 2. It felt cheap and sloppy when Darabont left.

[@brianperez1999]

I wish they did that it would've been so awesome

[@FredDThatGuyOverTher]

I knew it I KNEW IT! I said it look a lot like him. I was like dude thats Starkiller. They said i was crazy and locked me away, but i knew I KNEW.

[@SubliminaIMessages]

Season 2 was when the show went downhill. "If the zombie didn't contaminate the water yet, blowing its brains out will." WHAT? Were they seriously contemplating drinking the water from the well anyway despite a fucking zombie being in it for god-knows how long?? That aside, it does still have some shining moments like when Morgan returns.

[@Pepsi_Man_Max]

Season 2 was the low point, also Morgan returned in Season 3

[@SubliminaIMessages]

randomps3stuff yeah. I mean the show as a whole has some good moments.

[@chorizoloco8220]

Season 2 is the only season I've watched about 4 times over. Shane Walsh carried that season hard, and almost every other season has been a letdown. The product that is now, is what you from AMC when you think Season 2 is bad

[@powalovesmusic]

that's when I stopped watching it, I felt like I couldn't care for any of those characters anymore

[@Kay2be2mr]

That was exactly what I was about to write. I had no idea that there were so many people involved that are there just cause of Frank and therefore gladly being underpaid. Now that he's gone I'm sure there are threats all over the place, "give me what I deserve or I'm leaving!" Things behind the scenes must be really ugly.

[@dmichael7144]

This interview made me love Sam Witwer. Wish there were more celebs with little to no ego like him!

[@JacobMichaelDavidBenson]

Thank you for posting this whoever you are. I really respect his perspective. He stood up for the good people still on the show.

[@sneakykamon]

Personally, I never read the graphic novel (sadly) but as soon as I heard there was going to be a show about zombies I was automatically in because I love that genre. However, once I heard Frank Darabont was involved, I instantly because a fan and put all my faith in the show. Season 1 did not disappoint me at all but once they got rid of Frank and I saw the direction season 2 was heading, they lost me. TWD may not be Breaking Bad or Mad Men but AMC really dropped the ball with this gem.

[@scottfrye]

I just watched the frank and nick interview about season 2. It was too sad to finish.

[@danewoods4712]

Great interview and insight. Thanks for the upload

[@TheTrueNarthumpulous]

I think the show really lost its heart, overall. The characters aren't as well fleshed out as they were in season 2. I know a lot of people complained about the pace of season 2, before they fired Darabont, but I actually enjoyed it. I miss all the interpersonal dialogue between characters.

[@DaxShaw]

He is so awesome and his loyalty is very admirable.

[@eval_is_evil]

This guy is such an overlooked talent. But this happens to professionals who ha ve an independent mind in this friggin tv show/movie industry.

[@merledixonforce]

I no frank added new characters that didn't exist in the comics but you have to do that to keep the show fresh, 1 thing for sure if frank was still in charge he would have paid respect to Roberts main characters such as Abraham thyrees and so on, cause the directors that came after him they all just pushed those characters aside and made daryl shine and deep down robert kirkman nows that

[@KlaymenDel]

Ironically enough, Daryl became the most popular character in the Walking Dead. Imagine what other iconic things Frank could've brought to the table

[@J4sse]

I am feeling Sam's anger.

[@1rebelboy]

You seemed to be acting like Darabont's adding additional material would somehow take away from the addition of true to the comics material in the show.

[@Mikevallin2001]

He's also in Being human (us).

[@LittleLuckyLink]

This guy is so real. I love it.

[@razav350]

heres a little story on how i got to this video, I was watching the film 'the mist' and saw a character who was a private and thought to my self "he looks like starkiller" so after i watched the mist i typed in on google who plays starkillers, got IMDb up then clicked on the link 'Sam Witwer' and looked at the stuff he has done and i saw he played a zomibe on walking dead so i typed in on youtube 'walking dead zombie in tank' and found my self here ^^

[@pyroAdapt]

Hes so well spoken.

[@derechtepirat4698]

Damn, hurts hearing what it could have been. It would have been so badass seeing Sam Witwer in twd even if its a short scene, but the idea of Atlanta falling. The fall of society. Its sooooo interesting

[@keitht24]

this is an incredible story & would've been an incredible start to season 2 way better than what season ended up being

[@jackmarshall3255]

I count everything he said cannon.

[@SNoVa525]

I had no fricken idea Sam Witwer was the Zombie in the tank on the 1st episode. Ya learn something new everyday.

[@kerry3355]

They should have give it to the professionals HBO.

[@yemi1776]

They tried and HBO turned it down.

[@darioscomicschool1111]

Thank you for this Vid!

[@Tina41207]

I would LOVE to see the Walking Dead prequel!!!!!

[@zombiesscarekittens]

id love to see witwer do this show ):

[@ifallintofantasy]

Dude......thats horrible. They should have treated Frank better. That idea of pre-sequal episode to explain Sam Witwer's character sound BLOODY amazing. I reconise Sam as the zombie in episode stright away but i had no idea that this was going behind the scene. That idea would have been fantastic I feel sorry for Sam and Frank.

[@alexasaltz4229]

Perhaps a webisode series about the tank zombie?

[@animator2k]

why am i only now finding out that starkiller himself was in the walking dead?

[@moanguspickard249]

i ALWAYS see him as starkiller :D and he is right completely

[@GameGirl-vn2mc]

he is always starkiller to me I do videos of him and I might do a trailer for his own movie. mabey

[@kaijucifer3544]

Game Girl 101 "Starkiller" Try Aidan Waite.

[@berbuck]

Darabont is getting PAID!

[@InsidiousSaint91]

Fuck yeah! I'm so happy for him!

[@Johno1992]

It was also the grenade that saved rick and the gang

[@polsdofer]

Yes i'm so happy that i found out who the Tank Zombie was because I always thought that it was Sam Witwer but was skeptical cuz i figured he was doing Being Human so he couldn't of done Walking Dead and i was watching both of these shows when they were on last year.

[@braveclem]

Season 1 is the only canon for me,everything else looks like an alternative or different universe

[@1rebelboy]

No.... He was fired. Also notice that they WERE sticking quite close to the comic book material, merely adding more is not ruining anything. Even Kirkman didn't want them to stick too closely in order for there to still be surprises.

[@EhCanadianGamer]

I like The Walking Dead, but you still can't deny that the show was far better in Frank Darabonts hands. It's pretty clear that season 2 wouldn't have sucked so hard if AMC didn't do these shady business practices. Robert Krikman said the whole point of the show was to write the wrongs of the comic, like for example he regretted cutting ricks hand off early in the comic. I would agree if Frank Darabont was still working on the walking dead, because he wanted to make a faithful but different spin on the source material. But now, what wrongs of the comics are being fixed exactly? They are literally going the exact same route as the comics. Making very little significant changes, the only changes I can think of is some deaths of the characters are ether excellerated or delayed. The only significant difference was that idea pitch about that prequel story in Atlanta.

[@Darthdeej]

He's wearing a Cyberdyne Systems t-shirt!!!

[@kevinsmithfan37]

firing frank was just stupid not just for the reasons in the video but think about it if you signed on to this show for less purely because frank was on board now that he isn't there it would just make sense that all those people that took pay cuts will now turn around and say "oh my contract is up and the show is a hit, now it's time to pay me rock star money" hence defeating the purpose of firing him cause if he was still there the cast wouldn't feel the need for massive payrises

[@littlebrennan3]

He is such a fantastic voice actor and a damn good dude!

[@hiverhythm]

no wonder the show is garbage

[@lukerose384]

That's a bit of an overstatement.

[@olechristianhenne6583]

No shock

[@dstacyify]

No shit. Imagine what seasons 2 through 8 would've been like with Frank still as the showrunner. Glen Mazzara completely dropped the ball in season 3 in particular (specifically with Andrea's character) and Gimple is, well, Gimple. Only Angela Kang since she took over as showrunner in season 9 has been able to bring back some of the magic from Frank's lone season as showrunner.

[@dstacyify]

@BHowardify So basically Gimple was kind of a tyrant. That fits considering he's responsible for ruining Fear the Walking Dead now by trying to force Morgan as the central character and reboot the entire show in season 4 for no reason.

[@JustinCage56]

@@dstacyify Gimple might have been the worst thing to happen to TWD in my opinion.

[@TheTrueNarthumpulous]

The storytelling on The Walking Dead has gone ridiculously down hill since they fired Frank. I can't even watch it anymore. Season 3 is a joke.

[@fishing4monkeys]

Did you not just hear what Sam Witwer said?

[@singIeservingfriend]

Stephen King was also going to write an episode too

[@babywolf4238]

Wait really? Do you have any evidence to support this claim?

[@singIeservingfriend]

No, just heard it on another video

[@babywolf4238]

Which video? Can you link it to me?

[@singIeservingfriend]

It was just some Things You Didn't Know About TWD video, can't remember which. It might not even be true.

[@snakey319]

wow, had no idea they had this planned.

[@NJFilmSyndicate]

TWD could have been so much better if Frank Darabont was still there...sad

[@drakerydenFalls]

Holy fken shit! I always knew it was his him in the first episode when Rick killed that walker inside the tank but I had no idea they wanted to do a backstory about Sam being alive in the show!!

[@CaptainARR]

Was frank involved with season 2 at all?

[@molcoo]

@Venkman007 How has it been 'bad'? I don't get it. The characters have depth, the set pieces are breathtaking, the acting is superb (Jon Hamm and Elizabeth Moss in particular)....

[@DiegoH23]

@starkeef Season two is not over yet. It wasn't bad, its just that there wasn't as much zombie action as the first season. I really liked where the show went and the ending of the last episode was awesome. CANNOT FUCKING WAIT UNTIL SEASON TWO RESUMES

[@supafun33]

I think it would be nice to have a beer with Sam Witwer

[@HorrorManiac4]

I want Frank back ! I don't like how season 2 has went so far & I sure hope the last 6 episodes are way better & it's not the acting the is disappointing it's the script.

[@Peritye]

It became all about people vs. People and nothing about zombies. The show makes no sense. Tbh it could not have zombies and it would be the same.

[@BackAlleyKnifeFighter]

Zombies are now just there as a gross factor with the gory kills. Frank could've done people vs people better.

[@SUPPORTOUTBREAK3]

I think Season 2 is great. But the Sophia thing got annoying. It started of strong with the March of the Zombies thing. But the only thing good after that was Shane getting the medicine pretty much.

[@kevinsmithfan37]

well it looks like the guy that played dale wasn't happy because if you have read the books dale isn't meant to die anywhere near as early as he did in the show. Plus he was in so many of franks movies eg shawshank, the mist, the green mile and the majestic that it's easy to see why he would take a pay cut for frank

[@KingMe1220]

I swear to God, if this show ends up sucking because of Darabont's absence, I'm gonna be PISSED.

[@unrealtrip]

Yeah, wow we really missed out. Instead of that cool deeply woven story, we got reality show style drama combined with a half season of shows which might as well have been called "the search for Sophia episodes 1-6"

[@Maxaga]

Damn, that would have been awesome for season 2. Its sad cuz season 2 sucked