Work on season 8 of AMC’s The Walking Dead resumed today after production temporarily ceased last week due to the tragic death of stunt performer John Bernecker.
As we reported on Friday, Bernecker passed away from suffering severe blunt force trauma to his head after he accidentally fell from a 20ft balcony when he tripped while practicing a fight scene. In respect of the much-missed member of the team, the set in Atlanta, Georgia, was shut down for the rest of the week. However, filming has now commenced again.
The news came courtesy of actress Pollyanna McIntosh, who plays Jadis on the show and posted the following tribute to Bernecker on her Instagram account.
Since our last report, The Walking Dead showrunner Scott Gimple has also released a touching statement about Bernecker’s loss, saying:
“Our production is heartbroken by the tragic loss of John Bernecker. John’s work on The Walking Dead and dozens of other movies and shows will continue to entertain and excite audiences for generations. We are grateful for his contributions, and all of us send our condolences, love, and prayers to John’s family and friends.”
Bernecker was one of the most prolific stunt performers in the business, with over 100 credits to his name in the past seven years, including The Hunger Games, Logan and the upcoming Marvel movie Black Panther. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this tragic time.
As for The Walking Dead, the cast and crew will be in attendance at San Diego Comic-Con this weekend, at which point the first trailer for season 8 will be unveiled.