Will Merle Return In Season 3 Of ‘Walking Dead’? Michael Rooker Knows

Posted Sunday, March 18th, 2012 06:00 pm GMT -4 by Scott West0

Merle and Rick - The Walking Dead Season 1

Rick holds Merle at gunpoint from Season 1

Ever since the redneck badass Merle cut off his own hand to escape the walkers and disappeared back in season 1 of AMC’s ‘The Walking Dead’, fans have been asking for his return. It was even speculated by many fans that Merle would return in the role of the villainous Governor when the character eventually made the jump from comics to the screen.

Merle returned for a brief appearance in the season two episode ‘Chupacabra’ but only as a fevered vision in the mind of Merle’s brother Daryl (Norman Reedus). And when David Morrissey was cast for the role of The Governor, the hope that Merle would return began to fade. But many fans held out hope that Merle would surface yet… and now we know!

Actor Michael Rooker, who plays Merle, was at Wondercon this past weekend to discuss the upcoming videogame ‘Lollipop Chainsaw ’, to which he lends his voice talents. Of course, fans wouldn’t let Rooker get through the panel without bringing up ‘The Walking Dead’ and the fate of Merle. Since AMC is usually so secretive about ‘The Walking Dead’ Rooker shocked fans by revealing that Merle will indeed be returning in season three of the series. Of course, Rooker couldn’t say much about how or what role Merle will play upon his return, but he did say that he had to lose twenty pounds for the role.

It would be interesting if Merle would be found imprisoned by the Governor since that would explain his emaciated state. Either way, Merle’s return is sure to throw a monkey wrench in Daryl’s journey of self-discovery as he seeks to find his humanity and his place within the group.

What do you think about Merle returning to ‘The Walking Dead’? Comment below and start speculating as to how he’ll appear and what might happen when he does. And, as always, stay tuned to ScienceFiction.com for more ‘Walking Dead’ updates as we get them.

http://www.sciencefiction.com Patrick Ruddell

I would be happier if he didn’t come back!
- James Freud
  
  Why?
  - http://www.sciencefiction.com Patrick Ruddell
    
    Really just don’t like the character.
    - http://sciencefiction.com/ Bryan Hardbarger
      
      His ignorant racial ramblings WERE very hard to tolerate. Personally, I love Michael Rooker’s work, and the disdain I have for this particular character is evidence of his obvious talent.
      - http://www.sciencefiction.com Patrick Ruddell
        
        AGREED! You said exactly what I would have liked to.
      - Ne
        
        Presadent? Really??
      - http://twitter.com/McAllanFX Maddy McAllan
        
        Really?! You can’t stand Merle’s intolerance? Ummm…do you know America by chance? Despite having a black president they are STILL racist as hell! How many skits of a gangster president to we really need before Americans understand that that is extremely racist?! I’ve never experienced racism and intolerance quite like what I’ve seen in America, and that’s from regular folk who can’t even understand why I find “Gangster Obama” insulting. Now I may not be black, but I’m from the UK and the idea of that kind of stereotyping and ignorance just astounds me, yet it flies over most American’s heads as if that’s just a norm and it’s totally acceptable. Well guess what, outside of the US, we find it shocking.
        
        So yeah, Merle’s intolerance is hard to handle, but at the same time every nation has their bigots, idiots and the intolerant. We have the BNP for example and America has the KKK. These people do exist so deal with it! You may think you’re being PC, but I just see it as being unrealistic. The only way it’s non-PC is if you don’t view his actions and words as being wrong!
        
        There’s a difference between hating the nature of a character and loving the dynamic a character brings. I’d actually hope that no one loves the character because of his nature. That’d be demoralising! I more believe that people like the character for the dynamic tension he brings. Having a racist redneck brings a whole new level to a show like this where few people remain and to have a chance at surviving you really need to be in a group. Merle either has to adapt and change, or he’ll be fed to the wolves…or in this case zombies. The level of tension and character development a character like Merle could bring to the show would be great. For the first half of season 2 this show sucked, and it sucked bad! I’ve had to try and convince many to come back and watch from the barn reveal onward as the first half of the season was basically a soap opera with the occasional zombie. Very boring! But if there was such an outlandish character like Merle brought into the mix, especially now that we’re getting back into real action, it would be a welcomed dynamic and change to the story that could help it go on.
      - Warchief
        
        oh stop it allready. Its just T.V . Hard to tolirate. Its this kind of guilt that got us an inexperianced inept presadent
      - Merledixon
        
        Holy Shit!!!!!! Your a moron!!!!!
      - awaiken
        
        Next Time…. we need a president that earned his way into an Ivy league university through blood privileged rather than working their way into the school, like Bush Jr.. It’s the only way to be sure we get a brilliant president.
      - Mike conners
        
        As humans all do, we have instinks that got us though the ice age. as long as you don’t act on them you have nothing to be ashamed of. One of these instincs are to fear and hate those who are different then you. Exept in the case of Radicale islomic terrorist this instinkt is rarely nessisary in the real world. However………DON’T YOU REALIZE AND SEA THROUGH YOU OWN GUILT THAT IN A ZOMBI APPOCALIPS some of these HUMAN instinksmay come in handy. Just be civilized about using them.
      - Adarragh86
        
        wow…you really need to use spell check more often. You spelled 10 words wrong and one may just be confusions with homonyms…I was so absorbed in the terrible spelling I didn’t care what point you were trying to make.
      - Fred
        
        U used sea instead of see
      - Dan
        
        Spells 10 words wrong. Spells terrorist right. That you Dubya?
Guest

The game is called Lollipop Chainsaw…
obladeeoblada

Well, now that Shane’s gone, we’re going to need a new antagonist. The fact that Rick handcuffed Merle… It’s obvious that there will be trouble, if he comes into contact with the group. Merle will most likely have a negative influence on Darryl. It would be a shame to see him stray from the awesome development his character has taken. I felt that Shane’s constant role as the ‘bad guy’ this season became a nuisance after a while. The survival aspect of the show is most certainly my favourite part, and the second half of this season focused more on the turmoil between specific characters. Thus, I’m not too interested in having Merle come back and stir the pot.
Hjgeorge7

he should return when the group goes to the jail (if) he should have all of the doors locked and right before the group walks away merle moves a piece of plywood in front of the metal bars that lead into the jail lobby and sees his brother and opens the door and they then let merle join the group
taleisha campbell

What I want to know is what was up with Rick’s wife on the finale? Was she really into Shane, but just agreeing with Rick because that was her role as his wife? And Merle will definitely make season 3 interesting with his return. He will ruffle some feathers amongst the group, but hopefully doesnt lead Daryl down the wrong path.
Lestat

I hated Merle. I hope he does not ruin Daryl as I feel he is about to break his chains of feeling like an outcast.
I hope in the prison Merle is a zombie and Daryl shoots him with his crossbow:) Justice served!!!
Mitchellmckibben

i agree but its so hard to stop talking or thinking about it when you dont know whats going to happen next. you know? I also dont want to read the comics because that would kind of ruin it
naif

I would be happier if he come back
Str8Nitro

I’m glad to hear of merle’s return, that just means more exciting episodes…, but I think he will have a reversing effect on his brother Daryl, downing him for joining the group, helping the weaker members of the group, and mainly for growing a little softer…. I think he will eventually try to get daryl to leave the group, or if not leave the group, to at least challenge Rick for leadership.
Str8Nitro

But im very curious to see what happens between Rick and Merle….!!
Dan6776

longshot but has any thought that maybe merle could be one of the walkers the govonor is feeding or maybe one of the fighters

Will Merle Return In Season 3 Of ‘Walking Dead’? Michael Rooker Knows

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