It’s a strange sight to see Norman Reedus walking around downtown Savannah without his infamous crossbow and layers of grime.
“The Walking Dead” actor took time out of his busy filming schedule to talk to a small group of students at The Marshall House.
Reedus, who earned his big break playing Murphy MacManus in the 1999 cult-classic “The Boondock Saints,” compared shooting “The Walking Dead” to being in an adrenaline fueled film.
“The intensity and amount of energy used every day is ridiculous. We shoot out in the sticks of Georgia because there’s no way you could film this show in a Hollywood studio lot,” Reedus said.
Students also got a few insider tips about the show, learning that both the crossbow and motorcycle that Reedus’ character, Daryl Dixon, uses in the show were custom made. Fans were also interested to learn that Daryl, who does not appear in the original graphic novel series, was created especially for Reedus by show creator Frank Darabont.
There is even a video game in the works that takes place from Daryl’s perspective, making it apparent that Reedus has made a great impact on viewers.
“It’s crazy how big Daryl’s following has gotten,” said the actor. “My action figure goes for upwards of $150, while the others go for $14.99.”
When asked if he read the graphic novel series before filming, he said that he started reading, but eventually stopped.
“People just expect too much of you. I wanted to create Daryl from a completely clean slate, no previous notions.”
Known for his rough, grittier characters, Reedus has appeared in over 40 films despite never taking an acting class. This fact aside, Reedus’ work in “The Walking Dead” and “The Boondock Saints” has earned him a spot in cinematic history.
“I’ve killed someone in every movie I’ve made. My mom keeps asking me why I can’t just be in a nice, romantic comedy.”
