The Walking Dead boss reveals tragic impact of Ezekiel’s cancer – and hints when he’ll leave show
EZEKIEL left viewers distraught on the latest episode of The Walking Dead as he told Siddiq he had thyroid cancer.
The leader of The Kingdom admitted that his persistent cough wasn't a result of smoke inhalation, but rather the same disease that afflicted his father and grandfather before him.
Show runner Angela Kang admitted that taking on chronic illness in the zombie apocalypse was an area she had been keen to explore for a while.
She explained how bittersweet it was for someone to fall prey to an illness that was once easily treatable in the days before the fall of civilisation.
“We had a lot of conversations about what are some things that we wanted to explore further with Ezekiel, because he’s been through so much and he’s such a strong character,” she began.
“We had been talking for a while in our room about the reality of the world is that people get terminal and chronic illnesses. We live in a wondrous time, and yet cancer is always scary, but there are cancers that are much more treatable than others, particularly the one that he has, being one of those,” she continued to Entertainment Weekly.
“We wanted to explore what it means for a character to get that kind of a diagnosis in this world, and especially with a character who is so joyful and such a strong leader, and so optimistic, and to have to grapple with something like that.”
Kang noted that while the allied communities would no doubt be shaken by the loss of Ezekiel, his health battle also stood to be a source of inspiration as he remained positive in the face of death.
She also pointed out that actor Khary Payton’s performance was informed by real life experience and had resonated with viewers and members of the production team.
“In talking with Khary, what was really beautiful is that he said that he connected so hard with him, because his history and his family, and many fans who are dealing with cancer or with other illnesses come up to him,” she went on.
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“He said the line from a few years ago, ‘And yet I smile.’ A lot of them really took that on as a source of personal strength, and that feeling that, in spite of hardship and in spite of these things that bring us down, wanting to find the hope in their lives. So he really connected very strongly with that story.”
It’s still unclear exactly when Ezekiel will succumb to the disease and leave the show.
However, Kang hinted that he wouldn’t be going anywhere soon, teasing the potential several more years of story lines.
“Breaking Bad was a story about a guy with cancer, and he made it for many years, so it could go many directions, is what I’ll say,” she concluded.
Earlier this week the teaser for season 10 episode 6 revealed Carol and Daryl’s plans to team up and taken down The Whisperers’ horde of walkers in a major blow to Alpha.
Meanwhile fans of the show went wild for a Bethe Green Easter Egg, which dropped a clue about Beta’s identity.
The Walking Dead airs Mondays on FOX in the UK and is available to stream on NOW TV.