‘Walking Dead’ creator hints that main character could be gay
By Will Stroude
The Walking Dead
creator Robert Kirkman has hinted that one of the show’s main characters – Daryl Dixon – could be gay.
Daryl, who has featured on the show since its first season, has forged close relationships with fellow zombie apocalypse survivors Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride) and Beth Greene (Emily Kinney) over the course of the series, but has yet to embark on any explicitly romantic relationship.
Now Robert Kirman – who created the orginal comic book series as well as serving as an executive producer on the TV adaptation – has responded to fan speculation that the crossbow-wielding redneck could be gay, reports Comicbook.com.
Asked if producers had considered the idea of Daryl being gay, Kirkman said: “All I can say at this point is that it’s been discussed.”
The 35-year-old added: “We have very specific ideas about Daryl’s sexuality – or seeming lack thereof – and if there’s ever a quiet period in the show where he’s no consistently distracted by crossbowing… we’ll tackle it in the show.”
When asked whether US cable network AMC, which airs The Walking Dead, would allow Daryl to be gay and out, Kirkman said: “For the record, they absolutely would.”
The Walking Dead comic book series has featured a variety of gay characters, while season four of the TV show saw the introduction of lesbian characters Tara (Alanna Masterson) and Alisha (Juliana Harkavy).
The actor who plays Daryl Dixon, Norman Reedus, has previously played gay characters in 1998’s Dark Harbor alongside Alan Rickman and in 2002’s gay drama film Luster.
Season five of The Walking Dead premieres in the UK on Monday October 13 on Fox, a day after it airs in the US.
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