The Walking Dead Creator Almost Didn’t Include One Character Because It Was ‘Too Weird’

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Summary

  • Robert Kirkman purposely made Shiva hard to adapt for TV to stay true to his vision.
  • Kirkman’s commitment to his original idea led to iconic moments in The Walking Dead.
  • Shiva’s presence symbolized strength in the face of struggle, despite her grim fate.

For devotees of “The Walking Dead,” one of the most valued elements throughout its 11 seasons on AMC was the richly developed characters that not only held together the post-apocalyptic narrative with deep emotion and sorrow, but also became an integral part of viewers’ weekly Sunday evening schedules. Millions tuned in each week to discover which character would meet their fate next or who would make it through the show’s numerous suspenseful cliffhangers.

Over the course of its numerous seasons, airing from 2010 to 2022, fans of the renowned series found themselves encountering fresh and intricate characters that surpassed their expectations. Although a large portion of the cast on ‘The Walking Dead’ were faithful representations of Robert Kirkman’s initial comic book characters, some unfortunate deviations from the source material left certain fans dissatisfied as they felt certain characters didn’t receive the storylines they deserved. Despite the fact that most characters on the show adapted fairly seamlessly from Kirkman’s comics to the small screen, one particular character was almost omitted due to being challenging to adapt and considered “too peculiar”, but fortunately, Kirkman was equal to the task.

Robert Kirkman Made Shiva Almost Impossible to Adapt for Television

According to ScreenRant, Robert Kirkman, co-creator of The Walking Dead, admitted during the Q&A section of The Walking Dead Deluxe #108 that he intentionally made Ezekiel’s pet tiger, Shiva, more challenging to adapt for the television series while simultaneously writing the comic book’s story. Kirkman realized that Shiva might not translate well on a smaller screen and could potentially appear “too strange”, but he persisted in his desire to incorporate her into the show, choosing to stay faithful to his original concept rather than allowing the TV adaptation to influence him. Kirkman explained that there were instances when he thought, “This will be difficult for us to adapt on the show. My response was, “Too bad! Gotta do it! Can’t let the show change this book.” He had concerns about what could and couldn’t work in a TV show, but since hadn’t been adapted before, he chose to maintain the creative process without compromises.

In certain instances, there might have been things in this comic that I would have held back on or not crossed certain lines before having children. However, to avoid second-guessing myself due only to my kids, I took a bold step to push beyond my initial thoughts, which led the book to become darker as a result.

Kirkman further reveals that his experience of fatherhood influenced his creative approach for The Walking Dead, as he grappled with deciding whether to incorporate more somber elements. However, he successfully overcame this creative hurdle, leading to some of the series’ most memorable scenes, and even introducing an exceptional character like Shiva. In another scenario, if the show hadn’t existed, Kirkman might have hesitated, thinking “Perhaps a tiger is too bizarre…”, ultimately choosing not to introduce her.

Overall, it was delightful to see Shiva join the cast of “The Walking Dead,” although it came as a surprise for those unfamiliar with the comics. Her character, a fierce and loyal companion to Ezekiel, brought comfort and strength when she was first saved from a zoo at the beginning of the show’s apocalyptic events. The production costs associated with creating a giant CGI tiger were undoubtedly high, but in “The Walking Dead,” Shiva served as a powerful symbol of the Kingdom’s resilience amidst its hardships. Regrettably, both in the comics and on screen, Shiva suffered a brutal demise, adding another layer of heartache for fans, which can be attributed to Kirkman.

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2025-03-19 14:34