Carl’s death in The Walking Dead Season 8 was arguably the most shocking character casualty of the series. Fans weren’t the only ones stunned by the controversial move – Carl actor Chandler Riggs was also caught off guard. “I think I was surprised like everyone here,” Riggs told a crowd at Walker Stalker Nashville. “I was very surprised…It was very surprising. Not something me or anyone would have expected.”
Although he has been featured on the show since he was 10, Chandler has seemed to have found new life after his character’s demise. Aside from making the Walker Stalker/Fan Fest/Comic Con rounds and being active on social media, Chandler has produced music under the name Eclipse, cast in the projects “Inherit The Viper” and “Only,” live-streamed games on Xbox Live Sessions, and even battled his former Walking Dead co-star Chad L. Coleman on Drop the Mic (watch below).
So how does he feel about being killed off the show nearly 6 months later? “I joke about it, but I’m not really bitter about it,” Riggs admitted to ComicBook.com’s Brandon Davis. “It’s more like an innocent way to go out. That’s kind of what Carl is really embodying in these last two episodes and really just kind of sums up Carl as a whole and proves that he knows that there is something after the war, it’s not just killing and killing and killing and killing. There’s got to be some sort of hope for Judith and for Maggie’s baby and everyone.”
Although he’s off the show, Riggs has continued to be active with The Walking Dead fanbase – who showered him with love following his exit. “It was really just overwhelming with the amount of support coming from fans that were super sad to see my character go,” he told Comicbook.com. “The majority of them were just really, really excited to see where I go next and that’s how the attitude that I had towards it and I’m really happy that a lot of my fans have the same attitude towards it as well and are excited to see what I do next.” Catch the rest of the interview at Comicbook.com and watch clips from Chandler’s Fan Fest panel below.
Chandler talks about the relationship between Carl and Negan…as Jeffrey Dean Morgan passes by in the distance! #FFNashville pic.twitter.com/gTxyGEp243
— Fan Fest News (@FanFestNews) May 13, 2018
Chandler explains what it was like to finally cut his hair when he was finished playing Carl #FFNashville pic.twitter.com/JnN2yOTQ6L
— Fan Fest News (@FanFestNews) May 13, 2018
If Chandler could be any Marvel superhero, who would he be? #FFNashville pic.twitter.com/7mmnwjTGj1
— Fan Fest News (@FanFestNews) May 13, 2018
And for those that believe the rumors that ALWAYS come around about someone dirtbagging the actor/actress (Carl killed off because of an unwillingness for a pay raise associated with Chandler Riggs’s age, etc.), DESPITE the fact that all you see & hear directly from them is how great it is to be a part of the show & how they’re all like family:
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/the-walking-dead-mid-season-8-episode-8-carl-grimes-dies-chandler-riggs-father-finale-slams-scott-a8105001.html
I choose to believe what he or his father or someone else credible says vs. some dimwit on Reddit.
Also of interest:
http://comicbook.com/thewalkingdead/2017/10/22/the-walking-dead-season-8-cast-salary/#3