The Walking Dead Nearly Killed Off A Major Character Much Earlier

A former cast member on The Walking Dead has revealed one major character was almost killed off a few seasons earlier than their eventual exit.

In an episode of the Talk Dead to Me podcast, actor Lew Temple – who played prisoner Axel in the show's third season – revealed his character, who was jailed for robbing a store with a water pistol, was originally supposed to be a serial killer who would "slaughter" a major character.

That character was Maggie's sister, Beth Greene (Emily Kinney).

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As fans will know, Beth ended up surviving two more seasons and actually died in season 5 episode 8 'Coda', after being shot by Dawn in the hospital.

However, Lew revealed that his canned serial killer storyline would have seen Axel lure Beth out into the woods and brutally murder her, two seasons prior to her actual on-screen exit.

"There were some episodes that were written where I do take Beth out into the woods and slaughter her," Lew said.

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"And so we didn't get to any of those. That was why I kept buttoned up [in costume], he was gonna come undone and be totally Henry Rollins tattooed.

"The whole thing about being a drug addict was all a facade, the thing about the squirt gun and pistol is all bullshit."

Eek! We're glad Beth stuck around a few more seasons.

The Walking Dead's season 10 finale will air as a special episode later this year on FOX in the UK. You can also catch up on the show via NOW TV. In the US, the show airs on AMC.

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Louise McCreeshLouise McCreesh is a freelance news writer at Digital Spy.