According to Deadline, the popular Walking Dead franchise returns on September 29 with the second season of its spinoff series Daryl Dixon—now titled The Book of Carol. This season promises to take the post-apocalyptic drama to new heights as Norman Reedus’ (Blade, The Bikeriders, Ballerina) beloved character, Daryl, battles both zombies and human foes amidst the backdrop of Paris, France.
As mentioned by Deadline, one of the most striking aspects of the upcoming season is its setting. In recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, showrunner and executive producer David Zabel (Medal Of Honor: Rising Sun) revealed the challenges of securing the renowned Louvre Museum as a filming location. “Orchestrating that was difficult and complicated,” Zabel explained.” “When Norman and I first talked about the show, we loved the juxtaposition of being in a place like France, which is all about high culture, beautiful architecture, and high fashion, and setting that against the apocalypse, where everything’s falling apart.”
The Louvre, a global symbol of art and history, plays a central role in the season’s storyline, especially in exploring the backstory of Anne Charrier’s (Chefs, How To Be A French Lover, Maison Close) character, Marion Genet, the leader of a paramilitary group known as Pouvoir du Vivant (Power of the Living). The museum’s iconic artworks, including the real Mona Lisa, are featured prominently in the series.
According to Deadline, the Parisian setting and use of landmarks, such as the Catacombs, add depth to the show’s exploration of survival and culture in a world gone mad.
Filming at the Louvre is no small feat. Around 500 shoots take place there annually, with costs estimated at 15,000 euros per day, according to a The New York Times report from 2018. Other high-profile projects filmed inside the museum include Beyoncé (Halo, Say My Name, If I Were A Boy) and Jay-Z’s (Empire State Of Mind, Run This Town, Drunk In Love)music video for “APESH–” and the movie The Da Vinci Code
As mentioned by Deadline, The Book of Carol has already been renewed for a third season, with production underway in Spain, expanding to areas like Madrid, Galicia, Aragon, Catalonia and Valencia. As a top performer for AMC+, the series shows no signs of slowing down.
Season two kicks off with Daryl and Carol, played by Reedus and Melissa McBride (The Mist, The Hapy’s, Matlock), facing personal struggles. Daryl is grappling with his decision to remain in France—the origin of the apocalyptic virus—while Carol fights to find him back in the U.S. Meanwhile, Genet’s extremist organization gains power, setting the stage for a major conflict with the Union of Hope in the battle for France’s future. Fans can expect intense action, complex character arcs and the continued evolution of The Walking Dead universe in this highly anticipated season.