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Even though it was called Wrath, the finale was about mercy.
It was to show that things were changing.
I mean, theres a line in the episode where Rick just says, Things are changing.
So it was a very different story, and completely intended to be that way.
He struggled against becoming a human being.
He had to do it.
There has been a lot of talk aboutThe Walking Deadbecoming a completely different show for season nine.
What are the specific ways it will be different?
I can say just, generally, that the show will evolve.
The stories are evolving.
The things that theyre facing are evolving.
Yes, theres some unfinished business from this season, but that isnt the big, big drive.
It is just going to be a very, very different show.
Its a much bigger thing that theyre all aspiring to.
I suppose thats where they should be; its where the comic went because they learned how to survive.
How do they take that further?
What do they do with that superpower, and what are their responsibilities?
These are things that were gonna be exploring in season nine.
Something big to the story, and thats something were gonna have to get into as well.
Whats the feeling of the cast and the crew heading into season nine?
The war with Negan was such a big story line.
Is there excitement about going in a new direction?Oh, absolutely.
The war was a long, long story.
It was like doing a 33-hour movie.
Its exciting to get into new stuff, to break new ground and discover new things.
Yeah, I think people are charged up.
I think its about Negan.
Without going into it too much, her reaction to Rick letting Negan live was gigantic.
This is not settled.
And Daryl has a pretty intimate relationship with Negan.
He has seen all sides of him.
But does that really apply to Negan?
Does Negan deserve that sort of mercy?
I think even with Jesus its a different story, and I think he really has Maggies back.
In many ways, in that moment, hes feeling out Maggies feelings about the situation.
Though, especially in TV, I try not to get my hopes up too much.
I think I was trying to protect my heart.
You are now the chief content officer for all things in theWalking Deaduniverse at AMC.
We have the two series, which seem to be roughly on the same timeline.
Are more spinoffs coming?
Will the apocalypse go international?
But yes, were working on that stuff.
Right now, Im working onFear.
Im working onWalking Dead.
But the most important thing is that when were moving forward, whatever we do is different.
That we see the world ofThe Walking Deadin a new way.
Were trying to achieve a variety, and to show every pocket that we can.
There are all sorts of cool things ahead.
Theres a whole universe of possibilities.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
