The Walking Dead (season 2)
Encyclopedia
The second season of AMC's television series The Walking Dead
premiered on October 16, 2011 on AMC and will feature 13 episodes. The series is based on the series of comic books of the same name
by Robert Kirkman
, Tony Moore
and Charlie Adlard
; it was developed for television by Frank Darabont
, who will serve as executive producer
for the second season along with Robert Kirkman and Glen Mazzara
.
. Along the way, they come across a traffic jam of vehicles on I-85. The group loots several vehicles and hide as walkers approach; Sophia, chased away from the camp by the walkers, runs off into the woods. The remaining group deals with interpersonal relationships while a search is performed. The searchers come across a deer, and Carl was accidentally shot as he was approaching it. In a desperate bid to save Carl's life, Otis, the man who shot Carl, led Rick and Shane to a large, isolated farm owned by a man named Hershel. The survivors move to the farm, where Rick's group and Hershel's group attempt to co-exist, but dangerous secrets on both sides threaten to unravel the shaky peace.
portrays Rick Grimes
, a former deputy sheriff from King County, Georgia
, and husband of Lori and father of Carl. Jon Bernthal
portrays Shane Walsh, Rick's close friend and former fellow deputy sheriff. Sarah Wayne Callies
plays Lori Grimes, Rick's wife and mother of Carl. Laurie Holden
plays Andrea, a former successful civil rights attorney, whose younger sister Amy died in the first season. Jeffrey DeMunn
portrays Dale Horvath, an older member of the group who owns an RV with whom the group travels. Steven Yeun
portrays Glenn, a former pizza delivery boy and integral member of the group. Chandler Riggs plays Carl Grimes, Rick and Lori's young son. Norman Reedus
plays Daryl Dixon, the group's hunter and expert tracker; Reedus was upgraded to the main cast from being a recurring cast member in the first season.
as Carol Peletier, a former victim of domestic abuse who has found new strength after the death of her abusive husband Ed, Madison Lintz as Sophia Peletier, Carol's young daughter; and IronE Singleton as Theodore "T-Dog" Douglas, a member of the group. New recurring cast members include Scott Wilson
as Hershel Greene, a ranch owner; Lauren Cohan
as Maggie Greene, Hershel's eldest daughter; Pruitt Taylor Vince
as Otis, Hershel's ranch hand; Jane McNeill as Patricia, Otis's wife; Michael Zegen
as a teenager named Randall; Emily Kinney as Beth Greene, Hershel's youngest daughter; and James McCune, as Jimmy, Beth's boyfriend. Two recurring cast members from the first season also appear in guest appearances: Michael Rooker
as Merle Dixon, Daryl's redneck elder brother in a hallucination; and Adam Minarovich
as Ed Peletier, Carol's deceased husband in a flashback sequence.
reported that Frank Darabont had let go of the entire writing staff, and planned to use freelance writers for the second season. This turned out to be not entirely accurate, and Robert Kirkman was quoted as saying that the changes to the writing staff would not affect the production of the show. In February 2011 it was announced that Glen Mazzara
, who had written the first season episode "Wildfire", had been hired as a writer/executive producer for the second season and will now put together a staff of five more writers.
At C2E2
members of the cast confirmed that the second season will begin shooting on June 1, 2011. Frank Darabont will write the season premiere. At the same event, cast members speculated that acclaimed author and long-time Darabont collaborator Stephen King
may write an episode. Kirkman later confirmed that along with himself, Darabont and Mazzara the writing staff will consist of Scott M. Gimple, Evan Reilly
, Angela Kang
and one freelance writer, David Leslie Johnson
. Four actors have joined the cast as new characters for season 2—Scott Wilson
as Hershel Greene, Lauren Cohan
as his daughter Maggie, Pruitt Taylor Vince
as Hershel's ranch hand Otis, and Michael Zegen
as a man named Randall.
A preview of season 2 was shown during the season premiere of Breaking Bad
on July 17, 2011 and a full length trailer was released to promote season 2 at Comic-Con 2011, on July 22, 2011.
In July 2011, series developer and showrunner Frank Darabont stepped down from his position as showrunner for the series, with believed reasoning he was unable to adjust to the schedule of running a television series. Executive producer Glen Mazzara
will be the series' new showrunner. Darabont's sudden departure further sparked controversy in August when The Hollywood Reporter broke a story revealing that Darabont had in fact been fired due to issues of the show's reduced budget and a strained relationship with AMC executives.
The premiere aired in an extended 90-minute time slot, similar to the pilot episode. After the first seven episodes air, the series will go on hiatus, and then return on February 12, 2012, when the final six episodes of the season will begin airing.
premiered. The series airs after encore presentations of The Walking Dead Sunday nights. It feature host Chris Hardwick discussing the latest episode with fans, actors, and producers of the show.
The Walking Dead (TV series)
The Walking Dead is an American post-apocalyptic horror television series developed for television by Frank Darabont and based on the ongoing comic book series, The Walking Dead, by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard...
premiered on October 16, 2011 on AMC and will feature 13 episodes. The series is based on the series of comic books of the same name
The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead is a monthly black-and-white US comic book series published by Image Comics beginning in 2003. The comic was created by writer Robert Kirkman and artist Tony Moore, who was replaced by Charlie Adlard from issue #7 onward, although Moore continued to do the covers through issue...
by Robert Kirkman
Robert Kirkman
Robert Kirkman is an American comic book writer best known for his work on The Walking Dead and Invincible for Image Comics, and Ultimate X-Men and Marvel Zombies for Marvel Comics. He has also collaborated with Image Comics co-founder Todd McFarlane on the series Haunt...
, Tony Moore
Tony Moore (artist)
Michael Anthony "Tony" Moore is an American comic book artist, whose work consists mainly of genre pieces, most notably in horror and science fiction, with titles such as The Walking Dead, Fear Agent and The Exterminators.-Career:...
and Charlie Adlard
Charlie Adlard
Charles "Charlie" Adlard is a British comic book artist and penciller.He is best known for providing art on The Walking Dead and Savage.-Biography:...
; it was developed for television by Frank Darabont
Frank Darabont
Frank Darabont is a Hungarian-American film director, screenwriter and producer who has been nominated for three Academy Awards and a Golden Globe. He has directed the films The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, and The Mist, all based on stories by Stephen King...
, who will serve as executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
for the second season along with Robert Kirkman and Glen Mazzara
Glen Mazzara
Glen Mazzara is an American television producer and writer.-Biography:Mazzara was born in Manhattan and grew up in Queens, New York. He attended NYU and earned a masters in English...
.
Plot
The second season begins with Grimes and the survivors choosing to leave Atlanta to the walkers and head to Fort BenningFort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
. Along the way, they come across a traffic jam of vehicles on I-85. The group loots several vehicles and hide as walkers approach; Sophia, chased away from the camp by the walkers, runs off into the woods. The remaining group deals with interpersonal relationships while a search is performed. The searchers come across a deer, and Carl was accidentally shot as he was approaching it. In a desperate bid to save Carl's life, Otis, the man who shot Carl, led Rick and Shane to a large, isolated farm owned by a man named Hershel. The survivors move to the farm, where Rick's group and Hershel's group attempt to co-exist, but dangerous secrets on both sides threaten to unravel the shaky peace.
Main cast
The second season features eight major roles receiving star billing, all returning from the first season; seven were listed as main cast members in the first season, while the last is promoted from recurring status. Andrew LincolnAndrew Lincoln
Andrew Lincoln is an English actor, known for his roles in the TV series This Life, Teachers and Afterlife, and the films Love Actually and Heartbreaker...
portrays Rick Grimes
Rick Grimes
Rick Grimes is a fictional character in the ongoing black-and-white comic book series The Walking Dead and as well as its television series adaptation, The Walking Dead.-Comic book series:...
, a former deputy sheriff from King County, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, and husband of Lori and father of Carl. Jon Bernthal
Jon Bernthal
Jonathan E. "Jon" Bernthal is an American actor, best known for his role on the AMC television series The Walking Dead.-Early life:...
portrays Shane Walsh, Rick's close friend and former fellow deputy sheriff. Sarah Wayne Callies
Sarah Wayne Callies
Sarah Wayne Callies is an American actress who is best known for her role as Sara Tancredi in the American television series Prison Break. She now plays Lori Grimes in The Walking Dead.- Early life :...
plays Lori Grimes, Rick's wife and mother of Carl. Laurie Holden
Laurie Holden
Heather Laurie Holden is an American-Canadian actress and human rights activist. She is perhaps best known for her roles as Marita Covarrubias in The X-Files, Adele Stanton on The Majestic, Cybil Bennett in Silent Hill, Amanda Dumfries in The Mist, Olivia Murray in The Shield, and Andrea in The...
plays Andrea, a former successful civil rights attorney, whose younger sister Amy died in the first season. Jeffrey DeMunn
Jeffrey DeMunn
Jeffrey DeMunn is an American theatre, film and television actor.-Life and career:DeMunn was born in Buffalo, New York, the son of Violet and James DeMunn. Stepson of noted actress Betty Lutes DeMunn...
portrays Dale Horvath, an older member of the group who owns an RV with whom the group travels. Steven Yeun
Steven Yeun
Steven Yeun is a Korean-born American actor. Yeun is currently starring in the role of Glenn in AMC's original series, The Walking Dead since 2010. Other than The Walking Dead, Yeun guest starred in the critically acclaimed American sit-com The Big Bang Theory as Sheldon's former room mate...
portrays Glenn, a former pizza delivery boy and integral member of the group. Chandler Riggs plays Carl Grimes, Rick and Lori's young son. Norman Reedus
Norman Reedus
Norman Mark Reedus is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal as Murphy MacManus in the 1999 film The Boondock Saints as well as its 2009 sequel The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day and for the character of Daryl Dixon in the AMC television series The Walking Dead...
plays Daryl Dixon, the group's hunter and expert tracker; Reedus was upgraded to the main cast from being a recurring cast member in the first season.
Recurring cast
Several recurring cast members appear in the second season. Three recurring cast members return from the first season: Melissa McBrideMelissa McBride
Melissa McBride is an American actress best known for her roles as Carol Peletier in the AMC-TV series The Walking Dead and as the "Woman With Kids at Home" in Frank Darabont's 2007 adaptation of Stephen King's "The Mist." She is also a casting director in Atlanta, Georgia.-Filmography:* Matlock...
as Carol Peletier, a former victim of domestic abuse who has found new strength after the death of her abusive husband Ed, Madison Lintz as Sophia Peletier, Carol's young daughter; and IronE Singleton as Theodore "T-Dog" Douglas, a member of the group. New recurring cast members include Scott Wilson
Scott Wilson (actor)
Scott Wilson is an American actor.-Movies:Wilson appeared in such films as In the Heat of the Night, In Cold Blood, The Gypsy Moths, The Great Gatsby, The Right Stuff, A Year of the Quiet Sun, Malone, Dead Man Walking, The Grass Harp, Junebug, The Host, Monster, Young Guns II, Pearl Harbor, and...
as Hershel Greene, a ranch owner; Lauren Cohan
Lauren Cohan
Lauren Cohan is an American actress. Her most recognized role to date is that of the role of Bela Talbot on Supernatural...
as Maggie Greene, Hershel's eldest daughter; Pruitt Taylor Vince
Pruitt Taylor Vince
Pruitt Taylor Vince is an American award-winning character actor who has made many appearances in film and television.-Personal life:Vince was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana...
as Otis, Hershel's ranch hand; Jane McNeill as Patricia, Otis's wife; Michael Zegen
Michael Zegen
Michael Zegen is an American actor, best known for his role as probie firefighter "Damien Keefe" on the FX Network television drama Rescue Me, as well as his recurring role as "Dwight the Troubled Teen" on over 50 episodes of the Late Show with David Letterman...
as a teenager named Randall; Emily Kinney as Beth Greene, Hershel's youngest daughter; and James McCune, as Jimmy, Beth's boyfriend. Two recurring cast members from the first season also appear in guest appearances: Michael Rooker
Michael Rooker
Michael Rooker is an American actor.-Early life:Rooker, who has eight brothers and sisters, was born in Jasper, Alabama and studied at the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago, where he moved with his mother and siblings at the age of thirteen, after his parents divorced.-Movie career:He made his...
as Merle Dixon, Daryl's redneck elder brother in a hallucination; and Adam Minarovich
Adam Minarovich
Adam Minarovich is an American actor, screenwriter and film director. He is known for his recurring role as Ed in the American television series, The Walking Dead....
as Ed Peletier, Carol's deceased husband in a flashback sequence.
Production
After the airing of the first season, Deadline.comDeadline.com
Deadline.com, part of Jay Penske's PMC, is an online magazine, founded and edited by Nikki Finke.-Publication:The site is updated several times a day, with the infotainment industry as its focus.-History:...
reported that Frank Darabont had let go of the entire writing staff, and planned to use freelance writers for the second season. This turned out to be not entirely accurate, and Robert Kirkman was quoted as saying that the changes to the writing staff would not affect the production of the show. In February 2011 it was announced that Glen Mazzara
Glen Mazzara
Glen Mazzara is an American television producer and writer.-Biography:Mazzara was born in Manhattan and grew up in Queens, New York. He attended NYU and earned a masters in English...
, who had written the first season episode "Wildfire", had been hired as a writer/executive producer for the second season and will now put together a staff of five more writers.
At C2E2
Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo
The Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo is a Chicago fan convention dedicated to comics, pop culture, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, toys, movies, and television...
members of the cast confirmed that the second season will begin shooting on June 1, 2011. Frank Darabont will write the season premiere. At the same event, cast members speculated that acclaimed author and long-time Darabont collaborator Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
may write an episode. Kirkman later confirmed that along with himself, Darabont and Mazzara the writing staff will consist of Scott M. Gimple, Evan Reilly
Evan Reilly
Evan Reilly, sometimes credited as Evan T. Reilly, is an American television writer, producer and director who is best known as a long-time writer and producer on the FX series Rescue Me, which he worked on beginning with its second season and continuing through to its seventh and final season...
, Angela Kang
Angela Kang
Angela Kang is an American television writer currently serving as a writer and story editor on the second season of the AMC horror/drama series The Walking Dead.- Education and early career :...
and one freelance writer, David Leslie Johnson
David Leslie Johnson
- Writing Credits :Orphan2009Red Riding Hood 2011Wrath of the Titans 2012The Walking Dead television series, season 2- Trivia :In 2011, David was given the honorary title: "Australian God of Cinema" after the strong Aussie opening of the film, Red Riding Hood.- External links :* David Leslie...
. Four actors have joined the cast as new characters for season 2—Scott Wilson
Scott Wilson (actor)
Scott Wilson is an American actor.-Movies:Wilson appeared in such films as In the Heat of the Night, In Cold Blood, The Gypsy Moths, The Great Gatsby, The Right Stuff, A Year of the Quiet Sun, Malone, Dead Man Walking, The Grass Harp, Junebug, The Host, Monster, Young Guns II, Pearl Harbor, and...
as Hershel Greene, Lauren Cohan
Lauren Cohan
Lauren Cohan is an American actress. Her most recognized role to date is that of the role of Bela Talbot on Supernatural...
as his daughter Maggie, Pruitt Taylor Vince
Pruitt Taylor Vince
Pruitt Taylor Vince is an American award-winning character actor who has made many appearances in film and television.-Personal life:Vince was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana...
as Hershel's ranch hand Otis, and Michael Zegen
Michael Zegen
Michael Zegen is an American actor, best known for his role as probie firefighter "Damien Keefe" on the FX Network television drama Rescue Me, as well as his recurring role as "Dwight the Troubled Teen" on over 50 episodes of the Late Show with David Letterman...
as a man named Randall.
A preview of season 2 was shown during the season premiere of Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad is an American television drama series created and produced by Vince Gilligan. Set and produced in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Breaking Bad is the story of Walter White , a struggling high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with advanced lung cancer at the beginning of the series...
on July 17, 2011 and a full length trailer was released to promote season 2 at Comic-Con 2011, on July 22, 2011.
In July 2011, series developer and showrunner Frank Darabont stepped down from his position as showrunner for the series, with believed reasoning he was unable to adjust to the schedule of running a television series. Executive producer Glen Mazzara
Glen Mazzara
Glen Mazzara is an American television producer and writer.-Biography:Mazzara was born in Manhattan and grew up in Queens, New York. He attended NYU and earned a masters in English...
will be the series' new showrunner. Darabont's sudden departure further sparked controversy in August when The Hollywood Reporter broke a story revealing that Darabont had in fact been fired due to issues of the show's reduced budget and a strained relationship with AMC executives.
The premiere aired in an extended 90-minute time slot, similar to the pilot episode. After the first seven episodes air, the series will go on hiatus, and then return on February 12, 2012, when the final six episodes of the season will begin airing.
Webisodes
All six webisodes premiered on October 3, 2011 on AMC's official website. The web series is directed by special effects makeup artist and co-executive producer Greg Nicotero and tells the origin story of Hannah, also known as "Bicycle Girl", the crawler that Rick Grimes killed in the first episode.Talking Dead
Following the encore presentation of the second season premiere on October 16, 2011, a live after-show titled Talking Dead hosted by Chris HardwickChris Hardwick
Christopher Ryan "Chris" Hardwick is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, musician, podcaster, television personality, and voice artist...
premiered. The series airs after encore presentations of The Walking Dead Sunday nights. It feature host Chris Hardwick discussing the latest episode with fans, actors, and producers of the show.
Episodes
| № | # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | U.S. viewers (million) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|