McBride was initially set to be part of the upcoming Carol-Daryl spin-off, but backed out of the project due to the location where filming was to take place.
Back in April 2022, AMC released the following statement: “Unfortunately, she (McBride) is no longer able to participate in the previously announced spin-off focused on the Daryl Dixon and Carol Peletier characters, which will be set and filmed in Europe this summer and premiere next year. Relocating to Europe became logistically untenable for Melissa at this time. We know fans will be disappointed by this news, but The Walking Dead Universe continues to grow and expand in interesting ways and we very much hope to see Carol again in the near future.”
Some viewers blamed the remaining star of the AMC project, Norman Reedus, for the change, infuriating his fellow Walking Dead alum, Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Walking Dead: Dead City). He wrote:
"Some of you have gone WAY too far. TOXIC. Attacking norm for crap he has NOTHING to do with? Melissa made a call that was hers alone," Morgan wrote on Twitter Friday. "She wants/needs a break. Respect that. Factors involved that are nobody's business. Norm, who's given more than anyone to you all. Just S-----."
Norman had nothing to do with choosing the location. That decision is about story, ideas... MONEY. That's studio/network. Not from actors. We can say yes and do it, or no and don't... MAYBE. SOMETIMES. If we're lucky and don't have a contract yet. Rarely does an actor have that power."
Now, more than a year later, it has been revealed that Carol and Daryl will be seen together again in the new Daryl Dixon spin-off series. Morgan announced McBride's return to the franchise itself.
Anne Charrier, Eriq Ebanouey, Laika Blanc Francard, Romain Levi and Louis Puech Scigliuzzi also star in the new series, in which Daryl (Reedus) is overseas. The six episodes of the series are scheduled for release later this year. The exact premiere date will be announced later.
Watch a teaser for The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon below.