When The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon returns for its third season, it will feel closer to another, slightly older zombie horror franchise - a Undead has a lot of history with. Daryl Dixon season two ended with Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride's titular protagonist Carol walking through the Channel Tunnel on a journey from France to England in the vague hope that a route back to the United States would present itself at the other end. At least part of the action in Daryl Dixon the 3rd season, therefore, will take place on English soil.
Naturally, the move from France to England represents new territory for the franchise. UndeadThe zombie outbreak has remained almost exclusively a North American affair since the AMC series began in 2010, with brief excursions south of the border in Fear the undead and of course French rule Daryl Dixon seasons 1 and 2. Never before Undead ventured to the United Kingdom, although Daryl Dixon revealed in season 2 that the island is faring much better than most post-apocalypse countries, courtesy of the military taking quick and decisive action.
Daryl Dixon Season 3 Will Look A Lot Like 28 Days Later
Daryl and Carol chasing zombies across England means Daryl Dixon season three might start to feel like a lot 28 days laterwhich is curious because Danny Boyle's 2002 film and Undead they already share a considerable amount of DNA. 28 days later begins with Cillian Murphy's Jim waking up in hospital after falling into a coma, only to discover that the zombie apocalypse has begun without him. Released in 2003, the first chapter of Undead begins with Rick Grimes also waking up in the hospital after falling into a coma and also discovering that the zombie apocalypse has started without him.
Despite having undeniably similar starting points, Undead and 28 days later they will diverge in very different ways from then on, particularly with regard to their respective configurations. 28 days later has its famous striking scenes of London, followed by scenes of endless English motorways, and then the grand mansion where Jim's group takes shelter. UndeadThe dense forests, dusty roads, and American cities are a world away, giving both stories distinctly unique flavors.
This will no longer be the case when Daryl Dixon season three crosses over to England. The appearance of those same green rural landscapes, abandoned motorways and perhaps even a London landmark or two, will immediately bring Daryl Dixon closer to 28 days later in terms of style and visuals, reminding everyone how similar the opening beats of both stories were. For sure, images from the trailer Daryl Dixon Season 3 reaffirms the comparison showing Daryl and Carol passing an iconic red London bus.
This doesn't just mean that the pair will travel to England's capital - the same capital that served as the setting for 28 days latermost memorable moments - but 28 days later also used the image of an abandoned red bus to highlight the devastating impact of the zombie apocalypse. Perhaps Daryl Dixon is leaning into the connection and pointedly nodding to Danny Boyle here, or maybe both England-based zombie stories decided that a red bus would be the best way to say "welcome to London." Whatever the case, Daryl Dixon will struggle to avoid feeling like 28 days later in season 3.
Daryl Dixon's third season will have to compete with its zombie predecessor
28 years later is just the beginning
The other reason why comparisons between Undead and 28 days later normally gone unnoticed is the inactivity of the latter. The latest entry in the franchise, 28 weeks laterreleased in 2007 - three years earlier UndeadThe TV adaptation premiered and became a global sensation. Since then, the film franchise has been effectively dead, leaving Undead an open path to becoming the undisputed champion of the zombie genre.
If any of 2025's offerings are poised to do justice to the “zombies in London” concept, it's 28 years later.
This no longer happens as Daryl Dixon the third season is concerned. Although it is still too early in production for an exact release date to be set Daryl Dixon will return in 2025, the same year as the long-awaited 28 years later will hit theaters. Currently scheduled for release on June 20th, there will only be a few months separating the two if Daryl Dixon maintains its traditional opening time in September. For the first time in its history, therefore, Undead will be competing directly with the horror franchise it copiedalbeit accidentally, right at the beginning.
Surprisingly, then, two of the biggest names in the zombie kingdom could be doing very similar things in a very similar time period in 2025. People like Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jodie Comer could be roaming post-apocalyptic London in 28 years laterso Daryl and Carol will follow in his footsteps in just three months.
In this scenario, there can only be one winner. While Undead is just a tourist, distracting the Yeomen Guard and getting the names of the bridges wrong, 28 years later born in the United Kingdom, shaped by it. If any of 2025's offerings are poised to do justice to the “zombies in London” concept, it's 28 years later.
It's probably a good thing that Season 3 Daryl Dixon is moving to Spain
Daryl reportedly had a tough time in England
The saving grace for Daryl Dixon season three is that England marks just a passing visit on a much larger journey. Despite wanting to reach the United States, Daryl and Carol will, for reasons currently known, depart England and head south to Spain.and this is where Daryl Dixon will predominantly be set during season 3. The spinoff will, presumably, spend just enough time in the UK to set up the season's Spanish mission, perhaps visit Big Ben, and maybe even throw in some 28 days later Easter eggs before moving on to the next destination.
28 years later can return to its usual British stomping ground without fear of a tiresome franchise of younger brothers nipping at its heels again.
I had Daryl Dixon season 3 permanently moved from France to England, the 28 days later comparison, as well as the imminent release of 28 years laterit would have become a much bigger problem. Undead it would have risked seeming repetitive, derivative and like it was foolishly trying to outdo a rival at home. Making things worse for Undead, 28 years later is just the first part of a planned trilogy, which means the revived film series will stick around. Daryl Dixon Moving to England at a time when the UK's flagship zombie franchise is returning to action would be a perplexing move.
On the other hand, Spain keeps all sides happy. Daryl Dixon Season 3 gets a unique and innovative setting what Undead never explored before, but at the same time avoids stepping on a rival's toes. 28 years laterIn the meantime, it can return to its usual British stomping grounds without fear of a tired franchise of younger brothers nipping at its heels again. That said, observing The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon turning its attention to the United Kingdom, however briefly, will still provide some fascinating insights after season two's claim that the island survived the zombie outbreak.
Sources: electronic warfare