Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Walking Dead series finale.New behind-the-scenes images of series finale reveal an alternate ending to the series, featuring the show's biggest time jump and aged-up versions of kids like Judith and Rick Jr. 's final episode featured bookends for the show's many characters while also teasing spinoffs for popular veteran survivors like Maggie, Daryl, and Rick Grimes. However, it had been previously reported that an alternate ending to 's final episode had been shot, with adult versions of children like Judith and R.J. searching for survivors to bring into the Virginia communities. The ending had allegedly been shot, but was not used in the final episode.
Images courtesy of cinematographer on Instagram confirm that features older versions of child characters from the show. One of Manwiller's images focuses on setting up the scene which was shot, while another features the entire aged-up cast, including actors that could be playing kids like Judith, R.J., Gracie, and Coco. Check out Manwiller's behind-the-scenes images below:
With the original ending featuring older versions of the child characters from the show, the time skip would have been more final for their stories than the ending that was settled on. A time skip ending would mean audiences know where characters like Judith, R.J., and Coco end up when they're older, while also indicating that nothing really changes for them while living in Virginia. In some regards, the original ending would have set their fates in stone, not allowing the any wiggle room to explore their lives in Virginia in the near future.
The original ending also would have drawn more attention to the far future of rather than the spinoffs, which will be telling their own tales in closer proximity to where the show properly ended. If the final scene of the show had been well over a decade after the main plot had been wrapped up, it may have been incredibly jarring, especially when audiences already know the stories of many older characters will be continuing in the new series. While one last scene featuring an older Judith and R.J. would have made for a good way to end their stories in , it wouldn't have given the episode much time to tease , nor underscore Daryl's upcoming adventure in France.
Although the alternate ending would have restricted the fates of 's child characters from being explored in the spinoffs, it still would have given the series inspiring, hopeful finality that lines up thematically with the ending the series finale ended up having. Seeing future versions of characters the audience is familiar with could have underscored the final episode's message about humanity coming together in the face of adversity in order to build a better tomorrow. While may have altered the possibilities of the zombie franchise's upcoming spinoffs, it still would have done a good job of highlighting the show's themes while confirming a bright future for an undead world.
Source: /Instagram
