When The Walking Dead first shuffled onto TV screens, it introduced audiences to a world of flesh-eating horrors, but it also brought a certain crossbow-wielding, squirrel-hunting hero into everyone’s lives. However, it turns out Norman Reedus, who plays said hero, Daryl Dixon, wasn’t even supposed to be cast. The actor originally auditioned for an entirely different role, with an entirely different aura: Daryl’s brother, Merle Dixon. Thankfully, the producers liked Reedus so much that they created a new character just for him.
For fans of The Walking Dead, it’s impossible to picture the series without Daryl, yet in another universe, he might never have been part of it. It’s fascinating to ponder how Reedus originally aimed for Merle, why the showrunners decided to keep him around in a whole new role, and how the Dixon brothers’ dynamic might have been wildly different had things gone another way.
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The Audition: Norman Reedus Originally Read For Merle Dixon
In his comments to The Hollywood Reporter, Norman Reedus claimed he was already a devoted fan of AMC’s elevated TV dramas like Breaking Bad and Mad Men. He had traveled to Los Angeles for pilot season, hoping to find a project that felt fresh and exciting—that’s when The Walking Dead script landed in his hands and immediately became his dream project.
“I had a feeling it was going to be something cool that I would want to watch,” Reedus recalled. Eager to be a part of the show in any capacity, he asked to audition for anything—even if it was just for a single day bit part. That opportunity came in the form of an audition for Merle Dixon, though just before his audition, he was told by Michael Rooker that he’d already been cast in the role.
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Despite knowing Rooker was lined up for Merle, Reedus wanted to be a part of The Walking Dead so badly that he rolled the dice anyway and gave the audition his all. According to the actor, he simply returned to New York, assuming that was the end of it. But then he got another call. This time, the production wanted him to come back in and read different Merle lines. He still wasn’t sure what was happening; he wondered if perhaps maybe Rooker had backed out, and the role was up for grabs again.
What’s interesting is that while Reedus didn’t audition for the role he landed, he also never actually chose to audition for Merle either. He simply wanted to be a part of the show, but then the best-case scenario occurred when Season 1 showrunner Frank Darbont loved Reedus so much that he decided to write a brand new role specifically tailored to him.
“When I left the offices in New York, I was walking home through Chinatown and got a call saying Frank created a new part—Daryl—for me. I did cartwheels in Chinatown! It was a dream.”
At the time, Reedus didn’t know if this new role would last more than an episode or a season, but Daryl has since become one of the most iconic characters in the franchise, even getting his own European spinoff, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon.
Creating The Character Of Daryl Dixon Just for Norman Reedus
It’s rare for an actor’s audition to inspire an entirely new character, but Reedus managed to do just that. Showrunner Frank Darabont was so impressed with Reedus’s audition that he decided he couldn’t let the actor walk away. However, with Michael Rooker already locked in as Merle, Darabont found himself in an unusual position—he had an actor he wanted to keep but no available role for him. The solution: create one from scratch.
Daryl Dixon didn’t exist in The Walking Dead comics, meaning his intro in Season 1 was a pure result of Reedus’s impact. Unlike Merle, who was brash, violent, and deeply antagonistic, Daryl was conceived as someone rough around the edges but ultimately compassionate. The character was written as a hunter, a survivalist, and someone who had lived in Merle’s shadow for most of his life. Darabont saw the potential in making Daryl a more layered character—one who could evolve from a reckless outsider into a central figure in the group’s survival.
It’s worth noting that Merle Dixon was also not a character in the comics, but many fans believe the character was written in as a wild card, to create more conflict within the group.
When Daryl was introduced in “Tell It to the Frogs” (Season 1, Episode 3), he initially carried a lot of the same aggression as his brother Merle, but his arc was left open-ended. The writers had the freedom to develop him organically based on Reedus’ performance, which quickly showed that there was more to Daryl than just being Merle’s little brother. Daryl first appears hunting in the woods with his crossbow, irritated that his brother Merle was left handcuffed on a rooftop in Atlanta.
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Although we’ll never know Darbont’s long-term plan for Daryl since Glen Mazara took over as showrunner for Season 2, we do know Reedus himself contributed to shaping Daryl’s personality. He suggested subtle details—like how Daryl rarely makes direct eye contact at first, hinting at his troubled upbringing. From the start, Daryl is complex, but many fans think he comes into his own in the second season, showing his heart when he begins to care deeply for Carol (Melissa McBride). Although Carol was original to the comics and Daryl was a new addition, their friendship progressed into one of the fan-favorites.
Had Darabont not been open to improvisation and creative flexibility, The Walking Dead would have missed out on one of its most iconic characters. Daryl Dixon was never supposed to exist, but now, it’s honestly hard to imagine the apocalypse without him. Likewise, Reedus credits the success of his acting career to the franchise.
“The job since Day 1 has been my favorite working experience ever, and it continues to be. I feel very blessed to be here.”
What If Norman Reedus Had Played Merle Dixon Instead?
If Reedus had been cast as Merle, The Walking Dead would have had a different dynamic. Michael Rooker’s portrayal of Merle was intense, unhinged, and, at times, outright despicable. While Reedus could have certainly delivered a compelling performance, the character of Merle was likely always meant to be more of an antagonist than a long-term survivor. Had Reedus played Merle, he might not even have lasted beyond the early seasons, and the show would have lost the opportunity to explore the complex brotherly relationship that became a central theme.
Merle, as played by Rooker, was a ticking time bomb—dangerous and unpredictable until his final moments in “This Sorrowful Life” (Season 3, Episode 15). If Reedus had played Merle, it’s also possible the writers would have softened the character, which would have undercut the role’s effectiveness as a foil to Rick (Andrew Lincoln). Instead, the decision to create Daryl allowed for a nuanced sibling contrast—Merle represented the worst of their upbringing, while Daryl had the chance to grow beyond it.
What If Norman Reedus Had Never Been Cast In TWD at All?
Now, imagine The Walking Dead with Rooker as Merle, but no Daryl Dixon. No crossbow-wielding warrior, no tracking skills, no emotional anchor for Carol (Melissa McBride). Without Daryl, the group would have also lacked a crucial survivalist edge since so many rescue missions and strategies relied on his expertise in tracking and combat.
Carol’s arc, in particular, would have been drastically different and potentially suffered for the lack of Daryl. Her close bond with Reedus’ character provided her with support and confidence as she evolved into one of the show’s strongest survivors. Without Daryl, she might never have stepped into that role. In addition, the absence of Daryl would have left a noticeable void in the leadership dynamics, possibly forcing other characters, like Steven Yeun’s Glenn or IronE Singleton’s T-Dog, to take on even more of the responsibility.
Ultimately, Daryl’s presence reshaped the narrative of The Walking Dead in ways no one could have predicted. While there are many aspects of the comics preferred by fans, it’s pretty undeniable that adding Daryl into the mix was a stroke of genius. Without him, the show would have had fewer moments of quiet introspection, fewer unexpected friendships, and a lot less archery action. Thankfully, Reedus got that audition, decided to go despite bad odds, and Darabont saw something in him worth keeping.
The Daryl Dixon Fans Can’t Help But Know and Love
Ultimately, it seems the viewers got the best of both worlds—Michael Rooker’s unforgettable take on Merle and Norman Reedus as the crossbow-slinging Daryl Dixon. Despite switching showrunners after the first season, the vision for Daryl remained intact, and he was allowed to blossom into a Walking Dead icon, if not the most highly favored character among fans.
Although The Walking Dead original series has ended, Reedus’ spinoff The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon is still going strong, with Season 2 even seeing the return of Carol, and a Season 3 set to premiere in the Fall of 2025.
- Release Date
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2010 – 2022
- Network
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AMC
- Showrunner
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Frank Darabont, Angela Kang, Scott M. Gimple, Glen Mazzara
