Following the negative response it received for the gruesome killing scene in the season opener, the show has toned down the gore in next episodes of the current season 7.
- Jan 19, 2017
AceShowbiz - "The Walking Dead" writers and producers listened to your complaints. The show will scale back the explicit violence following the backlash it received from viewers due to the gruesome killing scene in the season 7 premiere.
Executive producer Gale Anne Hurd told Variety during the show's panel at the National Association of Television Program Executives conference in Miami on Wednesday, January 18, "We were able to look at the feedback on the level of violence. We did tone it down for episodes we were still filming for later on in the season."
Noting that the viewers' reaction means they care a lot about the show, Hurd said they would make sure that they "don't cross that line." She added, "This is not a show that is torture porn."
The level of violence aside, a new picture from season 7B of "The Walking Dead" has been released to tide fans over the show's return. Making its way out via EW, it teases a new group and a new place. In the image, Rick is seen conversing with someone, whose back is facing the camera, in what looks like a junkyard setting.
Exclusive new #TheWalkingDead photo teases new character and location: https://t.co/TK3EtUZpoX pic.twitter.com/J33oQNeeEm
— Dalton Ross (@DaltonRoss) January 18, 2017
Showrunner Scott M. Gimple says about the scene in the photo, "I'm just going to say that Rick is going to meet this person and/or persons pretty quickly. The answers are just around the heap. I cannot wait for people to meet this character and to see this actor. There is some formidable fun coming up."
#TheWalkingDead teases a new character and a new location: https://t.co/vT6ZdiCQVh #TWD pic.twitter.com/ThPYft2lY1
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) January 18, 2017
"The Walking Dead" returns Sunday, February 12 at 9/8c on AMC.