Based on the comic book series by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard, The Walking Dead TV show was developed by Frank Darabont and is set in a post-apocalyptic world. It instantly became a cult hit after it premiered on Halloween night in 2010 and it currently has over 11 million viewers.
Fans of the show have been anxiously awaiting its return, which we will see this Sunday, October 13 on AMC. In anticipation of the return of one of the best shows on TV, we did some digging around and found some pretty interesting facts about the show. We hope you enjoy!
1. In honor of Stephen King
The leading character Rick Grimes is from the fictitious King County, Georgia, which is named in honor of Stephen King.
2. Walkers vs Zombies
Have you ever noticed that The word ‘zombie’ is never spoken in The Walking Dead. Instead, they are referred to as ‘walkers’, ‘biters’, ‘the herd’, and even ‘roamers’. According to Kirkman, this is because he wants to portray a world where the old George Romero movies (Night of the Living Dead) didn’t exist. What he means by this is that by not acknowledging the ‘walkers’ by the name ‘zombie’, these characters have no idea what they are dealing with. This is a completely new concept to them and not something that has come to life out of old movies they once watched.
Night of the Living Dead
The Walking Dead
3. The Virus
No one knows exactly how the virus started or how it is contracted. However, one big theory is that it is not actually contagious, but instead everyone already has it. When a person dies, they will reanimate as a ‘walker’, regardless of how they were killed. Currently, the only known way to completely kill a ‘walker’ is to ensure severe damage to the brain.
4. Episodes
Season 1 of the show only had 6 episodes and season 2 only had 13. Because of its success, AMC agreed to 16 episodes season 3. As of this posting, viewers can expect to see 16 episodes for season 4 as well and will once again be broken up into 2 parts (8 episodes each).
5. Mad Scientists
In season 1, we meet the CDC scientist Edwin Jenner. His character is named after Edward Jenner, the English scientist who developed the smallpox vaccine in the late 18th century.
Edward Jenner
Edwin Jenner
6. Walker School
Believe it or not, the actors who play ‘walkers’ in the show go through training to learn how to move and act that way. Their movements are slow and somewhat deliberate.
7. SWAT Team keeping the peace
When filming the first episode, unsuspecting neighbors called police believing there was a sniper nearby. A real SWAT team showed up to handle the chaos. Thankfully, no arrests were made. 
8. Humans are outnumbered
In the world of The Walking Dead, ‘walkers’ outnumber the living about 5,000 to 1.
9. Smiling skulls
In the very first episode, the blood from first walker that Rick Grimes kills leaves a shape of a smiling skull on his shirt.
10. Daryl’s Crossbow
Daryl Dixon’s crossbow is a Horton Scout HD 125. It retails for around $300.
11. ‘The Governor’
The character who is referred to as the Governor had a stash of 24 heads he stored in tanks. To give them that extra creepy look, they were stained yellow using coffee grounds and tea.
12. Segregated Meals
While having meals during shooting, the human actors eat separately from the ‘dead’ actors.
13. Further Decay
As the seasons progress, the walker’s makeup becomes more grey and morbid to indicate further decay with the passage of time.
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We hope that you have enjoyed this fun set of trivia for all of the current Walking Dead fans out there. If you feel this list infected you with The Walking Dead virus and can’t wait to add some gory effects to your project, check out these products that will be sure to give you the creepy look you’ve been searching for.
