The Walking Dead‘s Khary Payton, the actor behind the charismatic King Ezekiel, now expresses a keen interest in retracing the steps of his character’s ascent to power. Payton’s portrayal of King Ezekiel, the noble leader of the Kingdom, has captured the hearts of viewers. Yet, the backstory of how a modest zookeeper and amateur thespian transformed into a revered leader in a world overrun by the undead remains a mystery.

In an interview with Screen Rant during the promotion of the film Faster, Purple Worm! Kill! Kill!, Payton unveiled his vision for a prequel akin to the critically acclaimed Better Call Saul. This spinoff would meticulously follow the story of Ezekiel’s transformation, shedding light on the pivotal moments and decisions that shaped him into the king of a fragmented society desperately clinging to shreds of humanity.

“I really would love to go back in time and explore how Ezekiel came to become a king in the apocalypse. Do a Better Call Saul prequel and see how someone goes from being a zookeeper to having people decide that we’re going to listen to his outrageous idea of how you rebuild society,” Payton mused. His aspiration is not just to revisit a character he cherishes but to unravel the fabric of leadership and societal reconstruction in the bleakest of times.

While Payton remains grounded in the transient nature of roles and narratives in the entertainment industry, his enthusiasm for potentially reprising the role of Ezekiel in a prequel is palpable. He acknowledges the uncertainty of future projects yet embraces the diverse opportunities his career offers. A return to the world of The Walking Dead, should it beckon, would find Payton ready and eager.

King Ezekiel’s Prelude: A Tale of Resilience and Hope in The Walking Dead’s Expanding Universe

The proposition of a King Ezekiel-centered spin-off is not just a caprice of nostalgic sentimentality. The character’s background, dotted with personal challenges like his family’s battle with thyroid cancer, and his pre-apocalyptic roles as a zookeeper and actor, present a rich canvas waiting to be explored. The Walking Dead universe, already sprawling with spin-offs like Fear The Walking Dead and Tales of The Walking Dead, has demonstrated an appetite for deepening the lore and understanding the multifaceted human condition in the face of calamity.

A prequel focusing on Ezekiel offers a unique narrative avenue, different from the stories of newly introduced characters in the franchise’s spin-offs. This offers a window into a man’s transformative journey from ordinary to extraordinary amid a crumbling society. The saga of King Ezekiel promises not just an exploration of leadership and survival but an introspective journey into the essence of hope and resilience.

As The Walking Dead universe continues to expand, the potential for a King Ezekiel prequel stands as a testament to the enduring allure of its world and characters. The story presents a chance for enthusiasts to gain profound insights into a cherished figure, offering a new take on the themes foundational to this post-apocalyptic epic. For now, fans and the actor alike await with bated breath, hopeful for the chance to traverse the untold path of King Ezekiel’s rise to a symbol of hope in a fractured world.