Frank Darabont Finally Talks Being Fired From ‘The Walking Dead’
By The Movie God
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Tuesday, November 19th, 2013 at 8:30 pm
It’s been quite a while now since we found out that Frank Darabontwas fired by AMC from his position as showrunner of The Walking Dead. This after only one season of a show he developed for five years; of a show he talked Andrew Lincoln and Jon Bernthal into starring in; of a show that would become explosively popular on its way to becoming one of AMC’s biggest shows of all time, joining titles like Breaking Bad and Mad Men. Darabont has been busy since then working on his next project, Mob City, which looks fantastic and is set to debut on TNT December 4th.
But one thing we’ve never heard is a comment from Darabont himself on the drama that unfolded. Now that changes, with the Shawshank Redemption, Green Mile, and The Mist director finally sharing his thoughts. And as you might have imagined, he’s not at all pleased with how things went down.
Continue reading to see what he had to say.
Speaking to Rolling Stone as part of a larger interview you can check out there next months, Darabont was first asked if he’s kept up with the show, with mention that fans of creator Robert Kirkman’s comic weren’t too fond of where things had gone since his firing:
“Have not? Well I wouldn’t know. Because, for the same reason that if the woman that I loved left me for the Pilates instructor and they sent me an invitation to their wedding, for the same reason I wouldn’t go to the wedding, I haven’t seen an episode of The Walking Dead since then.”
Darabont then went deeper into the the subject, saying:
“Look, I really haven’t spoken of this yet – I will, I’ll get there – but I had to take some time off after that to really reassess everything, to really get over the emotional devastation of having some truly malevolent people tear asunder a brilliant family that had gathered to create this hit for them. It was a very, very deep and loving family, the cast and the crew, and to have that torn apart was – when somebody throws a hand-grenade into that situation, it’s tremendously emotionally trying. So would I want to watch another episode of The Walking Dead after that? Are you fucking kidding me? No, you put that traumatic disappointment behind you and move on with your life.”
So there that is. After a couple of years of silence on the topic, Darabont has shared his thoughts. And he was and still is clearly as angry about it as everyone assumed he was. And has every right to be.
I for one am waiting for the complete story. I know there’ll be a book in it for someone and I will be waiting to absorb it, hopefully with all it’s juicy details.
They done you wrong Frank.
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I for one am waiting for the complete story. I know there’ll be a book in it for someone and I will be waiting to absorb it, hopefully with all it’s juicy details.
They done you wrong Frank.
Comment by Harkonen — November 20, 2013 @ 9:49 am
The show got marginally better when they kicked Darabont to the curb. Of course the show still isn’t all that good.
Comment by CabezaQueso — November 20, 2013 @ 9:15 pm
i love frank darabont’s work and it’s a real shame that he wasn’t able to continue with the show.
Comment by Mr. J — November 20, 2013 @ 11:59 pm
The show could’ve been a masterpiece under Darabont’s supervision… Now it’s just a huge piece of commercial crap. Sad.
Comment by Mory Kaye — November 21, 2013 @ 4:30 am
Man, with the WALKING DEAD firing and having his amazing INDIANA JONES 4 script rejected by George Lucas I’m amazed Darabont hasn’t quit the business.
Comment by ColinJ — November 21, 2013 @ 5:23 pm