Summary
Even the most die-hardThe Walking Deadfans might not have realized that its post-apocalyptic world collides with a classicStephen Kingmovie from 2008. Due to the AMC series' captivating universe and storylines, which ran for 11 seasons, from 2010 until 2022, it’s easy to see how characters like Andrea, Dale and Carol were always a part of its world, but before Robert Kirkman’s comic book adaptation, the show’s cast starred in another apocalyptic fictional event that was just as terrifying.
Despite the show ending in November 2022, withseason 12 never materializing due to declining viewership,The Walking Dead’s beloved characters still live on in the franchise as it continues with spin-offs likeDead City andDaryl Dixon.Even though many fans ended up switching off their TVs after the series’Season 7 premiere in 2016 due to the outrage following Glenn’s death, the series has fought hard to regain the viewership and respect it once had. This can be seen inThe Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, which revealed where Rick had been since Jadis snatched him away in a helicopter, making it the highest-ratedThe Walking Deadseries of the lot.
Three years before the world was introduced to the savage landscapes ofThe Walking Dead,The Mist,based on the novella of the same name by Stephen King, was released in 2007. Written and directed byTheWalking Dead’soriginal showrunner for season one,Frank Darabont,The Mistreceived positive critical and commercial reviews, leading the movie to develop somewhat of a cult following. OnRotten Tomatoes, the horror/survival film scored a very healthy 73%, with many calling it “nuanced and deeply layered”, as well as “the most memorable monster movie experience ever”.
AlthoughThe Walking DeadandThe Mistboth focus on the lives of a group of survivors in a devastating apocalyptic environment, they also share a host of the same actors, most notably Laurie Holden (Andrea), Jeffrey DeMunn (Dale Horvath), Melissa McBride (Carol Peletier) and Juan Gabriel Pareja (Morales). A few other sneaky actors who were inThe Walking DeadandThe Mistare Sam Witwer, who portrayed the Tank Walker, Tiffany Morgan, who played the homemaker Erin in Alexandria, and Cherie Dvorak, who played Donna, a survivor introduced as part of Tyreese’s group. Frank Darabont also hired SFX artist Greg Nicotero forThe Mist, who also directedseveral episodes ofThe Walking Dead.
Even though it’s hard to imagineThe Walking Dead’s characters being played by anyone else, Darabont had originally wanted Thomas Jane, who was the main lead inThe Mist, to take on the role of Rick Grimes. However, by the timeThe Walking Deadstarted filming, Drayton was signed up for another project, which thankfully sawAndrew Lincoln jump into the boots of Sheriff Grimes, and the rest is history.
The Mistis available to stream right now on Prime Video, and the complete seasons ofThe Walking Deadare streaming on Netflix and AMC+.
