Earlier this week, photos emerged online that confirmed the return of an actor to “The Walking Dead” who hasn’t been seen in the flesh since the first season. And now AMC has come forward with the first official picture to confirm the actor’s identity.
Consider this your SPOILER WARNING and stop reading now if you don’t want to know who it is.
Still here? Then welcome Michael Rooker back to “The Walking Dead”!
Rooker appeared in the second and third episodes of “The Walking Dead’s” first season as Merle Dixon, a vicious man whom Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) restrained via handcuffs. Unfortunately for everyone, Rick and the other survivors were forced to abandon Merle to his fate and Merle responded by chopping off his own hand to make his escape. Aside from a brief appearance during a dream sequence in the second season, Merle has been absent until now.
Prior to “The Walking Dead,” Rooker was perhaps best known for his roles in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, Days of Thunder, JFK and The Dark Half in addition to numerous TV appearances in “CSI: Miami,” “Stargate SG-1,” “Thief,” “Crossing Jordan,” “Law & Order,” “Chuck” and “Burn Notice.”
Rooker’s reappearance as Merle also brings up the intriguing question of whom Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedu) will side with once his brother is back. The previously mention pictures from “The Walking Dead” season three set also suggest that Merle is working with David Morrissey’s The Governor, a man who will be the primary antagonist of the survivors this season.
“The Walking Dead” season 3 will kick off this fall on AMC.
