After playing the iconic apocalypse survivor Daryl Dixon for more than 15 years, Norman Reedus is finally set to hang up his crossbow and move on to a new chapter in his acting career. He has made a huge name for himself in The Walking Dead franchise, and he could use this as a springboard to boost his film career in the same way that other well-known television actors have done after starring in legendary series.
Reedus is already confirmed to be starring in Pendulum in 2027, and this could lead to other major film roles in the next few years. Reedus may already be 57 years old, but other television actors such as Bryan Cranston and Bob Odenkirk have proven that it’s possible to crack Hollywood later in life.
One of the Reasons for The Walking Dead’s Success
Reedus was a huge part of The Walking Dead’s success, and Dixon was a fan-favourite character from the first season. The crossbow-wielding hero was an original inclusion for the series and hadn’t featured in the comics. In fact, he was originally planned as an antagonist. However, Reedus’s influence and likeability led to a shift, with Dixon growing into one of the main characters who was absolutely loved by viewers.
Over the years, The Walking Dead franchise expanded massively and branched out into other media. This helped it reach a wider audience and helped even more people get attached to Reedus’ character. It started with the companion The Walking Dead RPG game from Telltale Games, and even broke out into the bingo online scene as well. Alongside classic bingo rooms, players can access slots like The Walking Dead and The Walking Dead 2. With all this franchise expansion, it was no surprise that Daryl Dixon got his own spinoff series after the main Walking Dead series ended.
Reedus Could Be Inspired by Odenkirk’s Recent Roles
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon was popular with fans, but its fourth season is set to be its last. Reedus loves his role as Dixon, but he has also stated in the past that he didn’t want to play the character indefinitely. During the time that he’s spent playing the rugged survivor, Reedus has seen various other actors of a similar age to him make their names on television and go on to find great success in Hollywood.
Some of the best examples include Pedro Pascal, Cranston, and Odenkirk. The latter is best known for his lead role in Better Call Saul, but has since made the unlikely switch to an action hero role in the Nobody franchise. Reedus could be inspired to follow in the 63-year-old’s footsteps and seek to star in his own similar franchise.
As a highly recognisable face and a popular actor, it’s likely that Reedus won’t find it hard to land roles. However, he quickly needs to shake his association with Dixon and prove that he has a wider range. As Odenkirk displayed with Nobody, it can be a great idea to move into a different genre to show a different set of skills.
