When Norman Reedus made his The Walking Dead debut in 2010, he was known mostly for The Boondock Saints over a decade prior. His role in the zombie apocalypse was intended as a supporting one, not having any basis in Robert Kirkman’s original comic series. Thanks largely to Reedus’ portrayal, however, Daryl organically transformed into one of The Walking Dead‘s most popular survivors.
Daryl became more prominent as the seasons progressed, then even more so following the departure of Andrew Lincoln in The Walking Dead season 9. Reedus went on to star in his own spinoff, Daryl Dixon, which has aired three seasons so far with a fourth on the way. Sadly, after 15 years of plucking crossbow bolts from the heads of the undead, Reedus could be leaving Daryl behind.
No Further The Walking Dead Projects Featuring Norman Reedus Have Been Confirmed
On November 20, 2025, Norman Reedus posted a tribute to his last day filming on Daryl Dixon season 4. Not only is season 4 confirmed as the last run of Reedus’ spinoff, it’s one of only two The Walking Dead shows left standing, with Dead City season 3 also in the pipeline.
The Walking Dead‘s future beyond those two releases remains murky, and with Daryl highly unlikely to show up in New York with Maggie and Negan, it does appear that – on paper, at least – Norman Reedus has shot his final moments as Daryl Dixon.
Reedus’ tweet certainly feels a little stronger than the usual end-of-season-filming post. His emotional acknowledgment of playing the character for so long, combined with the heartfelt expression of gratitude, could easily be interpreted as a final farewell to Daryl Dixon.
What Needs To Happen In Daryl Dixon Season 4 To End Daryl’s Story
For Daryl Dixon season 4 to end Reedus’ time on The Walking Dead properly, several things need to happen. First and foremost, Daryl and Carol need to finally escape Europe and make their way back to their friends in Alexandria and the Commonwealth. Given how frustratingly close they came at the end of Daryl Dixon season 3, this is all but guaranteed to happen next time around.
Daryl Dixon‘s ending should, if possible, make space for one final appearance from Louis Puech Scigliuzzi as Laurent. The audience still needs confirmation that he and Ash reached the United States safely, but seeing Daryl and Laurent together would bring emotional closure to their father-son bond too.
Slightly less plausibly, Daryl Dixon season 4 would need the long-awaited reunion between Andrew Lincoln’s Rick Grimes and Norman Reedus’ Daryl. After the dedication Daryl showed searching for Rick, he deserves to see his faith repaid, and viewers deserve to see the moment onscreen.
Daryl Dixon has largely ignored the teased romance between Daryl and Connie from the final seasons of The Walking Dead, setting Reedus’ character up with another love interest instead. Given how abruptly the plot was abandoned, it would be hugely satisfying if Daryl Dixon season 4 ended with just a small hint that Daryl and Connie could rekindle their spark.
If Daryl Dixon‘s final episodes can deliver all of these elements, maybe Norman Reedus really has filmed his last scenes in The Walking Dead.
Why Daryl Dixon Season 4 Likely WON’T Be The Last Time We See Norman Reedus In The Walking Dead
While Norman Reedus’ tweet certainly can be interpreted as the actor drawing a line under Daryl Dixon, it tellingly stops short of saying so explicitly. Even if no further projects have been announced, Reedus seems to leave the door open for Daryl’s return after his spinoff concludes – a sentiment he echoed during a Variety interview back in July 2025.
And, looking at the broader landscape of The Walking Dead, Daryl Dixon does indeed have more work to do.
It may be possible for Daryl Dixon season 4 to close out Daryl’s personal arc, but The Walking Dead has storylines laid out for years to come. Variants, the teased virus origin, Designation 2, PPP, and the 14-year limit on humanity’s lifespan are the biggest unresolved angles right now, and given that most of them have far-reaching consequences, they’re stories best-suited for either The Walking Dead season 12 or a franchise crossover.
The crossover conversation has been rumbling for several years now, with The Walking Dead chief Scott M. Gimple openly showing interest in the idea. The Walking Dead is still bursting at the seams with areas to explore, and Daryl’s enduring popularity makes his participation in that exciting future non-negotiable. A Walking Dead crossover without Norman Reedus wouldn’t be much of a crossover at all.
As long as that option remains on the table, Norman Reedus will likely have more scenes to film as Daryl Dixon in The Walking Dead‘s ever-expanding universe.
Sources: Variety
- Upcoming TV Shows
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More Tales from the Walking Dead Universe
- First Episode Air Date
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October 31, 2010
- Cast
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Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride, Danai Gurira, Lauren Cohan, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Chandler Riggs, Steven Yeun, Lennie James
