The Walking Dead’s D.J actor admits it was a ‘gut punch’ to be killed off before The Whisperer War
THE Walking Dead's D.J actor has admitted it was a 'gut punch' to be killed off before The Whisperer War.
Actor Matt Mangum played the character in the hit AMC zombie series from season eight until D.J's death in the penultimate episode of season nine.
The reformed Savior was killed by the leader of The Whisperers, Alpha (Samantha Morton), as he tried to free survivors captured by the twisted group.
Season 10 went on to detail the conflict between The Whisperers and the survivors, and Matt wishes he had been a part of it.
Speaking to the Talk Dead to Me podcast, he said: "It's a gut punch. I was trying to think of a nicer way to put it.
"You kind of expect it's gonna happen eventually, based on the show and what it is, that you're just not going to last forever.
"I started to feel like D.J. had built some longevity, and that maybe he would be there [longer]."
D.J died alongside Highwaymen Ozzy (Angus Sampson) and Alek (Jason Kirkpatrick) trying to save almost a dozen people abducted by the Whisperers.
Matt continued: "I really wanted to be there for the Whisperer War after reading it in the comics.
"There's a specific scene in the comics where I think it's Dwight who is carrying [baseball bat Lucille], and they're in the middle of the Whisperer War, and he tosses [Lucille] to Negan and he just starts going to town."
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The upcoming season 10 finale is inspired by that issue and the two either side, including Daryl's tactic for infiltrating the undead army unleashed by Beta (Ryan Hurst).
Matt said: "I was like, 'I want that. I want D.J. to be the one to toss Lucille back to him.
"So I started to feel like D.J. was gonna be around for a little bit. It sucks, but it's part of the show, and it's part of show business."
The Walking Dead season 10 finale airs on Sunday, October 4 at 9pm on AMC in the US and Monday, October 5 on FOX in the UK. You can also catch up on the show via NOW TV.