Sam Witwer on Frank Darabont & 'The Walking Dead' 

I need to go to a parallel universe where The Walking Dead was run by Frank Darabont for its entire run.

This entire video had me shaking my head and 100% agreeing with Witwer. AMC missed out on such a great thing. I can't believe this didn't become public. People would be outraged! Witwer you are epic!

"Black Hawk Down... with zombies." That'd make sooo much damn money.

Not only is Sam Witwer good looking, talented, and passionate about his work, he also has kept his integrity. I'm glad there are still people like this around to be role models for our children.

Wow what a loyal, eloquent guy. You can tell frank darabont's work comes from love and creativity amc's greed is cold and soulless

they really fired the dude that directed Shawshank redemption

Imagine if AMC had its way with Breaking Bad. Walter and Jesse would still be cooking meth in that RV for 20 seasons.

Frank Darabont is so awesome, Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, The Mist and Season 1 of The Walking Dead are all awesome.

I love how much respect he has for him.

It's crazy how stepped over of a director Frank Darabont is. He is extremely talented and completely overlooked it's shocking.

Now I'm upset from all those amazing ideas we missed out on. I still love the show but I have a different view of AMC. Thanks for posting this

Ohhhh shit just had a mini epiphany, I always wondered why the revisit of Morgan's character in season 3 was so shitty. You could tell Frank was setting up the reunion very nicely with rick checking his radio every day at dawn. The Morgan character deserved more than a 1 one episode revisit and to be made crazy.

In addition to the budget cuts, I did see someone else said Robert Kirkman had a problem with Darabont because he was taking a few liberties with characters and storylines ie adding Daryl and Merle. But that’s what an “adaptation” is. It’s not a carbon copy. And I think Mr Darabont would know that better than anyone when you look at his resume of adaptations.

1 season was awesome but after that you can tell that its not the same people or the same drive behind it

Honestly pains me to know we never got to see frank darabonts visions come to life

I hate all this shit because it sounds sooo much better then what TWD has become.

And now AMC is doing exactly what Frank wanted to do with this prequel episode in Tales Of The Walking Dead, except doing it poorly. The quality of The Walking Dead franchise would be so much better if it stayed in Frank’s hands.

This should have over a million views...

TWD has sucked since Darabont was forced out. Execs fuck every thing up. *Added: Hope Darabont gets a boat load of cash in his lawsuit.

Even though The Walking Dead (TV Show) Died with Frank Darabont in my opinion. Gotta say. Love the Cyberdyne shirt.

I fr always get sad watching the 1st season and just always think “what if”. This show could’ve been so much more

Damn. This would have been so good. I never knew he was the zombie in the tank. Having the prequel to go with that would have been nice...

its funny because all of that would have made the show MUCH better. The show is literally about nothing now.. and with no back story.

I'd heard there were a lot of behind the scenes issues going on back when season 2 aired (I believe Jeffrey DeMunn was fired for speaking against the treatment of Darabont?) but it's just depressing to hear about all the opportunities that were missed, the stories left untold, and the treatment of the guy who put in such effort to make this show a success. I love the show and have really enjoyed all the seasons so far, but I also really wish we'd got to see the way it would've gone with Frank in charge.

the show would have been infinitely better if they showed the fall of atlanta. the show is practically about nothing now...there's no soul. its aimless.

Mad respect for Sam Witwer. I managed to actually have a conversation with him at his autograph signing at Fan Expo Canada last week. Awesome guy. Seriously. When the "handlers" have to push you along because Sam is having such a great time just having a conversation with people about being a hardcore board/RPG gamer or working with Corey Burton because he notices you have Shockwave on your shirt... The guy is an amazing human being. All I can say. :)

The walking dead could have went right but ended up going left. Two paths. And amc choose the wrong path. I'm with Frank!

Damn. Hollywood needs more people like Darabount.

this is the most heart breaking shit ever

Fire the guy that fired frank Darrabont.

11 years later, after Frank was fired, by these sociopaths of AMC ... TWD after the second season became a series without direction, which the company took from its creator and showrunner, transforming a series that could be the best series the world, in a series to suck money. we're in season 11, and the show still sucks ... I miss frank a lot ... because he knew what he was doing and what direction this great series was going to take, towards him. I see a video and I think: how 1 men so creative and motivated lost everything just because a company wanted more money. it could have become something gigantic ... and it became gigantic shit, controlled by vampires.

Well this explains why the show became a confused mess after Season 1

I remember watching this video when it came out and it always gave me a sense of relief to think of the possibility of the show changing for the better thanks to the truth being out there and all the lawsuits that followed. Nothing ever changed for the better and the show is getting cancelled because it lost the majority of its viewership. Also it's really sad that this video barely reached 140k people.

This is why we can’t have nice things. Actual artists like Frank Darabont aren’t allowed to fulfill their vision because studio execs think they know better. I understand risk analysis in these decisions, but it’s FRANK DARABONT!!!!!

You could see the slight dip in quality and tonal shift after S1 when Frank left. It's not like the show became piss poor after season one by any means, but it the increase in episodes mixed with this rinse & repeat storyline of finding a safe place, then fighting against bad people became boring. I'm NEVER a fan of when TV series have more than 13 episodes because inevitably they HAVE to include filler in order to stretch out the main storyline. Look at CW's The Flash or Arrow. The first few seasons of those shows were great, but not perfect as they were 20+ episodes per season - half of which would be "villain of the week" filler episodes. AMC should have pulled their head out their asses & stopped trying to fix something that was not broken. 6 episodes would've been perfect. It makes each episode straight to the point with absolute zero filler. At most I'd say 10 episodes like Game of Thrones. But 13+? It's a shame because TWD just wasn't the same since S1. S1 felt like NORMAL people trying to survive the Zombie Apocolypse whereas in later seasons it became way too caricature-like - and nearly every episode post S4 was about morale dilemmas and whether killing is okay or not. S7 and beyond is where the show officially died out and lost it's 'mainstream powerhouse' appeal. I don't want to be dramatic and say TWD sucked after S1 because it didn't, it still had great episodes and moments but the consistency & levels definitely dropped when Frank left. Final point: just do a quick watch on how different the show is from S1 to now. It's like a completely different show with a different tone, demographic and main arc.

I never knew that Deacon St. John got shot by Rick Grimes in the pilot episode. That's pretty fuckin' cool.

I wish they did that it would've been so awesome

The show was never the same after season 2. It felt cheap and sloppy when Darabont left.

I knew it I KNEW IT! I said it look a lot like him. I was like dude thats Starkiller. They said i was crazy and locked me away, but i knew I KNEW.

Hes so well spoken.

This is terrible. Frank Darabont has made some of the greatest movies in cinematic history ie Shawshank Redemption, the Green Mile and the underrated the Mist. For AMC to just shit on all that talent and screw him over. No wonder the show is such shit now

Season 2 was when the show went downhill. "If the zombie didn't contaminate the water yet, blowing its brains out will." WHAT? Were they seriously contemplating drinking the water from the well anyway despite a fucking zombie being in it for god-knows how long?? That aside, it does still have some shining moments like when Morgan returns.

This interview made me love Sam Witwer. Wish there were more celebs with little to no ego like him!

Again, Witwer shows just how awesome a guy he is. It was outstanding of him to risk AMC's ire (sadly, those Douche Hats have a long reach in the Industry) by speaking out more candidly then anyone else at this point about how disgusting AMC's handling of this hit series (past tense now?) and the people working on it. What they did to Darabont just astounds me. I mean, he's a respected director, writer, and producer and they crapped on him. For what? A 34% budget cut. They're the new FOX.

I am feeling Sam's anger.

First saw Sam in the Force Unleashed games and have been a fan ever since. It would've been awesome if they made that pre-sequel about his character. TWD would still be amazing with Frank steering the ship.

Just seeing this in 2023, but as Sam was explaining how he ended up in the tank, my jaw dropped. That would’ve been amazing to watch. I’ve always thought the firing of Barabont, is what really killed The Walking Dead..

He is so awesome and his loyalty is very admirable.

That was exactly what I was about to write. I had no idea that there were so many people involved that are there just cause of Frank and therefore gladly being underpaid. Now that he's gone I'm sure there are threats all over the place, "give me what I deserve or I'm leaving!" Things behind the scenes must be really ugly.

This guy is such an overlooked talent. But this happens to professionals who ha ve an independent mind in this friggin tv show/movie industry.

This guy is so real. I love it.

At 2:24, who was Sam talking about, well it could have only been one person that Meryl meets after he lost his hand, and that person was the Governor. That's who Frank was gonna focus on in Season 2, and that was introducing the Governor in season 2.

Darabont is getting PAID!

I count everything he said cannon.

They should have give it to the professionals HBO.

Personally, I never read the graphic novel (sadly) but as soon as I heard there was going to be a show about zombies I was automatically in because I love that genre. However, once I heard Frank Darabont was involved, I instantly because a fan and put all my faith in the show. Season 1 did not disappoint me at all but once they got rid of Frank and I saw the direction season 2 was heading, they lost me. TWD may not be Breaking Bad or Mad Men but AMC really dropped the ball with this gem.

I no frank added new characters that didn't exist in the comics but you have to do that to keep the show fresh, 1 thing for sure if frank was still in charge he would have paid respect to Roberts main characters such as Abraham thyrees and so on, cause the directors that came after him they all just pushed those characters aside and made daryl shine and deep down robert kirkman nows that

I think the show really lost its heart, overall. The characters aren't as well fleshed out as they were in season 2. I know a lot of people complained about the pace of season 2, before they fired Darabont, but I actually enjoyed it. I miss all the interpersonal dialogue between characters.

i ALWAYS see him as starkiller :D and he is right completely

I just watched the frank and nick interview about season 2. It was too sad to finish.

Great interview and insight. Thanks for the upload

I would LOVE to see the Walking Dead prequel!!!!!

heres a little story on how i got to this video, I was watching the film 'the mist' and saw a character who was a private and thought to my self "he looks like starkiller" so after i watched the mist i typed in on google who plays starkillers, got IMDb up then clicked on the link 'Sam Witwer' and looked at the stuff he has done and i saw he played a zomibe on walking dead so i typed in on youtube 'walking dead zombie in tank' and found my self here ^^

Damn, hurts hearing what it could have been. It would have been so badass seeing Sam Witwer in twd even if its a short scene, but the idea of Atlanta falling. The fall of society. Its sooooo interesting

Dude......thats horrible. They should have treated Frank better. That idea of pre-sequal episode to explain Sam Witwer's character sound BLOODY amazing. I reconise Sam as the zombie in episode stright away but i had no idea that this was going behind the scene. That idea would have been fantastic I feel sorry for Sam and Frank.

this is an incredible story & would've been an incredible start to season 2 way better than what season ended up being

You seemed to be acting like Darabont's adding additional material would somehow take away from the addition of true to the comics material in the show.

id love to see witwer do this show ):

He is such a fantastic voice actor and a damn good dude!

I had no fricken idea Sam Witwer was the Zombie in the tank on the 1st episode. Ya learn something new everyday.

He's also in Being human (us).

he is always starkiller to me I do videos of him and I might do a trailer for his own movie. mabey

damn that sounds so badass

TWD could have been so much better if Frank Darabont was still there...sad

It was also the grenade that saved rick and the gang

Yes i'm so happy that i found out who the Tank Zombie was because I always thought that it was Sam Witwer but was skeptical cuz i figured he was doing Being Human so he couldn't of done Walking Dead and i was watching both of these shows when they were on last year.

No wonder why walking dead went to shit

Thank you for this Vid!

Perhaps a webisode series about the tank zombie?

Season 1 is the only canon for me,everything else looks like an alternative or different universe

I like The Walking Dead, but you still can't deny that the show was far better in Frank Darabonts hands. It's pretty clear that season 2 wouldn't have sucked so hard if AMC didn't do these shady business practices. Robert Krikman said the whole point of the show was to write the wrongs of the comic, like for example he regretted cutting ricks hand off early in the comic. I would agree if Frank Darabont was still working on the walking dead, because he wanted to make a faithful but different spin on the source material. But now, what wrongs of the comics are being fixed exactly? They are literally going the exact same route as the comics. Making very little significant changes, the only changes I can think of is some deaths of the characters are ether excellerated or delayed. The only significant difference was that idea pitch about that prequel story in Atlanta.

I think it would be nice to have a beer with Sam Witwer

It became all about people vs. People and nothing about zombies. The show makes no sense. Tbh it could not have zombies and it would be the same.

He's wearing a Cyberdyne Systems t-shirt!!!

Damn, that would have been awesome for season 2. Its sad cuz season 2 sucked

why am i only now finding out that starkiller himself was in the walking dead?

firing frank was just stupid not just for the reasons in the video but think about it if you signed on to this show for less purely because frank was on board now that he isn't there it would just make sense that all those people that took pay cuts will now turn around and say "oh my contract is up and the show is a hit, now it's time to pay me rock star money" hence defeating the purpose of firing him cause if he was still there the cast wouldn't feel the need for massive payrises

Holy fken shit! I always knew it was his him in the first episode when Rick killed that walker inside the tank but I had no idea they wanted to do a backstory about Sam being alive in the show!!

I want Frank back ! I don't like how season 2 has went so far & I sure hope the last 6 episodes are way better & it's not the acting the is disappointing it's the script.

That was an amazing idea. I love Sam Witwer. I'm really disappointed with the network.

The storytelling on The Walking Dead has gone ridiculously down hill since they fired Frank. I can't even watch it anymore. Season 3 is a joke.

no wonder the show is garbage

No.... He was fired. Also notice that they WERE sticking quite close to the comic book material, merely adding more is not ruining anything. Even Kirkman didn't want them to stick too closely in order for there to still be surprises.

Love Sam and Frank, god bless em both❤

I think Season 2 is great. But the Sophia thing got annoying. It started of strong with the March of the Zombies thing. But the only thing good after that was Shane getting the medicine pretty much.

I had no idea that was him in the tank! He was on my 2 favorite shows lol. This is a sad story he tells about Frank though

@starkeef Season two is not over yet. It wasn't bad, its just that there wasn't as much zombie action as the first season. I really liked where the show went and the ending of the last episode was awesome. CANNOT FUCKING WAIT UNTIL SEASON TWO RESUMES

Did you not just hear what Sam Witwer said?

sam witwer has by far the coolest shirts of any celebrity i know. Wearing a cyberdine shirt from terminator here, and i saw him wearing a colonial marines shirt from aliens at comic con!!!!! :)

wow, had no idea they had this planned.