Norman Reedus feared a Felicity-style backlash from viewers
Summary
– Norman Reedus pushed back on cutting Daryl Dixon’s hair
– Actor cited the infamous Felicity haircut backlash as a warning sign
– The long-held belief behind the fear is rooted in a TV myth
Daryl Dixon’s long hair has become one of the most recognizable traits in The Walking Dead universe, and it turns out the look was nearly changed.
During a Walking Dead spotlight panel at New York Comic Con 2023, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon showrunner David Zabel revealed early discussions about giving the character a haircut. The idea was to have Daryl clean up when arriving at the abbey and return to a look closer to his earlier seasons.
Norman Reedus ultimately resisted the change, citing a long-standing television cautionary tale. He pointed to the 1990s drama Felicity, where a major hairstyle change by lead actress Keri Russell became widely blamed for the show’s ratings decline.
Reedus explained that the reaction surrounding Felicity became part of the internal conversation and stuck with him. The fear was not about the haircut itself, but about how strongly audiences can react to sudden visual changes in beloved characters.
The Felicity story, however, is largely a myth. While Russell did cut her hair in season two, the show’s ratings issues had already begun before the change, mainly due to a network scheduling shift. Despite that, the haircut has remained a pop culture example of how not to anger viewers.
Reedus acknowledged that the decision may have been based on misinformation, but does not completely rule out a change in the future. He noted that a haircut could happen if it fits the story and the character’s situation.
For now, Daryl Dixon’s long hair remains intact, preserved not just by character identity but by a decades-old television legend that still looms large in Hollywood.
