1 of 5 | Romain Levi (L) and Elias Hauter star in “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon.” Photo by Emmanuel Guimier/AMC
NEW YORK, Sept. 10 (UPI) — Romain Levi reveals that the new series, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, presents an intense rivalry between his French soldier character, Codron, and the renowned American hero, Norman Reedus’ Daryl Dixon.
“Daryl Dixon acts as Codron’s nemesis,” Levi disclosed in a recent Zoom round-table interview.
“On the first day of shooting, we had a massive fight,” shared the French actor. “I was impressed by Norman’s dedication. Surprisingly, he treated me with kindness, always checking if I was okay after the punches he landed on me.”
The new installment of The Walking Dead, the popular zombie-apocalypse series, premieres on Sunday on AMC and AMC+.
This time, the storyline takes Daryl thousands of miles away from home to France, where he finds himself lost without any recollection of how he got there.
The bilingual series depicts Daryl’s journey through France as he encounters various people while attempting to reunite with his loved ones. Notable cast members include Clémence Poésy, Adam Nagaitis, Anne Charrier, Eriq Ebouaney, Laika Blanc Francard, and Louis Puech Scigliuzzi.
“I can’t reveal the types of zombies present in France, but I can assure you they possess great strength,” Levi teased, alluding to the event that initiated the apocalypse over a decade ago.
“France is engulfed in war. Survival becomes crucial in this world,” he added. “We employ different tactics to conquer these formidable zombies.”
Codron serves in a military organization aiming to restore order in the country. When his brother is killed during a patrol, Codron becomes convinced that Daryl is responsible, leading him to spend the majority of the series relentlessly hunting down the American.
“Codron is a persistent individual who will stop at nothing to achieve his objectives,” Levi explained.
Though Levi acknowledges that he is not as extreme as the character he portrays, he, as an actor, strives to embody the same commitment to his goals in real life, despite sometimes feeling shy.
“I dislike having regrets. I don’t enjoy the feeling of not having given my all or not investing enough in something,” he expressed.
Levi used to work at a bakery and was an ardent fan of the original series when it premiered.
“At the end of the day, I couldn’t wait to go home, enjoy a meal, and binge-watch three or four episodes of The Walking Dead,” he reminisced.
“If I could speak to myself from 10 years ago, I would tell that version of me, ‘You’re going to act alongside Daryl Dixon!’ It’s beyond anything I could have imagined.”
Despite the grim nature of the show, optimistic themes of hope, faith, and family permeate the narrative. Daryl encounters other survivors who are willing to offer assistance or join him on his journey.
“No matter how dark a place may seem, there is always a glimmer of light,” Levi asserted. “Sometimes it takes time, but you can find that light.”
Daryl Dixon has already been renewed for a second season.
The Walking Dead aired for 11 seasons from 2010 to 2022 and has spawned spin-offs such as Fear the Walking Dead, The Walking Dead: World Beyond, Tales of the Walking Dead, and The Walking Dead: Dead City.
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, featuring Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira as Rick and Michonne, is set to premiere in 2024.
