The Walking Dead icon Norman Reedus says emotional goodbye to Daryl Dixon role after 15 years
After 15 years, Norman Reedus is officially laying down his crossbow and saying goodbye to The Walking Dead and, more importantly, his beloved character Daryl.
The actor, who became a fan favourite in the original series of the sci-fi phenomenon, shared a message on social media to mark his last day filming the final season of spin-off show Daryl Dixon.
"Last filming day today for [Daryl Dixon]," he wrote on X. "It’s been such a joy for me to play this guy with all of u for this long. I feel really blessed. Truly. Thank you all really from my heart."
Daryl first appeared in the third episode of The Walking Dead, and soon captured fans' hearts and imaginations as he transformed from a selfish loner to a crucial member of the core group, becoming a character pretty much built into the DNA of the show.
When the original series ended in 2022, the Walking Dead franchise continued in the form of multiple spin-offs, with Daryl being washed up in France in the first two seasons of his show, before heading to Spain, and attempting to find his way home.
Season 2 also saw Daryl reunite with Melissa McBride's Carol, reforming one of the most iconic and well-loved partnerships in the show.
It was announced earlier this year that Daryl Dixon would end with season 4.
In a statement at the time, Reedus said: "Daryl Dixon has been an incredible journey. I thank each and every fan who has joined us on this ride. It's been a privilege to build this story for these characters, and we have so much gratitude for how it's been embraced.
"Your love and support have made every moment worth it. This finale isn't just an ending; it's a celebration of what we've all shared together. Keep carrying that love forward – Daryl's journey is far from over."
March 5, 2026 Will Be A Very Sad Day For Star Trek Fans
Jonathan Frakes is directing the penultimate episode of
Frakes previously revealed at STLV: Trek to Vegas in August that Paul Giamatti's villain, Nus Braka, does not appear in the episode he directed. Unfortunately, this means that Jonathan didn't get the privilege to direct the Academy Award nominee and Emmy winner. However, Frakes and Giamatti spent time together on the set of
Appearing as a guest on TrekMovie's All Access Star Trek podcast, Jonathan Frakes revealed more about his directing stint on Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 1, but Frakes' intel about the next
March 5, 2026 Will Be The Premiere Of The Last Star Trek Episode Directed By Jonathan Frakes
Frakes did not direct any episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds seasons 4 or 5, the latter of which is the show's fifth and final season that is nearing the end of filming. Jonathan also isn't directing an episode of
|
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1 Episodes |
Premiere Date |
|---|---|
|
Episodes 1 & 2 |
January 15, 2026 |
|
Episode 3 |
January 22, 2026 |
|
Episode 4 |
January 29, 2026 |
|
Episode 5 |
February 5, 2026 |
|
Episode 6 |
February 12, 2026 |
|
Episode 7 |
February 19, 2026 |
|
Episode 8 |
February 26, 2026 |
|
Episode 9 |
March 5, 2026 |
|
Episode 10 - Season 1 Finale |
March 12, 2026 |
However, Jonathan Frakes did tell TrekMovie that he directed Academy Award winner Holly Hunter and Tatiana Maslany in his episode of
“I did [direct Starfleet Academy], it was beautiful, with Tatiana Maslany and the great Holly Hunter, by the way… She’s great in the show… She’s one of the most well-prepared, instinctive, smart, clever. She’s an Academy Award-winning actress, and she gets it. She gets it. She has great ideas. Yeah, she’s a winner.”
Frakes has previously hyped up how Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is headlined by Oscar-caliber movie stars, which is one of the most exciting aspects of the next Star Trek series, along with a new, young cast and the return of
Jonathan Frakes Directed 17 Episodes Of Star Trek On Paramount+
Counting Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, Jonathan Frakes will have directed an amazing 17 episodes of Star Trek on Paramount+'s series, earning his reputation as the favorite director of
Frakes directed 6 episodes of
Star Trek
Why Jonathan Frakes Hasn’t Directed Another Star Trek Movie Since Insurrection
After directing several Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes, Jonathan Frakes jumped to feature films as the director of
After Star Trek: Insurrection, Jonathan Frakes directed Clockstoppers. Unfortunately, Frakes' biggest project as a director, Thunderbirds, was an epic failure. Thunderbirds' box office crash and burn ended Frakes' run as a movie director, but Jonathan successfully rebounded, and he has been a prolific TV director ever since.
A few years ago, Jonathan Frakes reached out to producer J.J. Abrams and offered his services as the director of Star Trek 4, which was mired in nearly a decade of development hell. Unfortunately, despite Frakes' Star Trek pedigree, nothing came of it.
Star Trek, both on film and television, is on the verge of becoming very different after 2027, with the end of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and the possible end of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy if Paramount+ doesn't renew it past season 2.
Jonathan Frakes' penultimate episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 1 not only sets up the end of the show's first season, but, sadly, it will also be the farewell to Jonathan Frakes as a Star Trek director — but hopefully, not forever.
