There's a new addition to the cast of AMC's "The Walking Dead." According to Deadline, actor Seth Gilliam has been added as a series regular for Season 5. The site reports that "The Wire" alum will play a character named "Michael Todd," apparently AMC is using a fake name to try and keep the identity a secret.
According to Deadline, the character is described as "having two sides, displaying a friendly, puckish humor but also having a haunted side stemming from a dark secret." It's been speculated that Gilliam will play the TV version of Father Gabriel Stokes.
In The Walking Dead comics, Father Gabriel is introduced in issue 61, which is close to where the TV version is. For those not familiar with the character, Father Gabriel is an African-American preacher in his 30s. He meets up with Rick Grimes and the rest of the group as they make their way towards Washington, D.C.
At one point in the comics, Gabriel tells the group that at the beginning of the outbreak he barricaded himself inside his church and refused to let anyone inside. Even though Father Gabriel was overcome with guilt, he continued to live at the church until he was forced to leave due to low supplies.
Here's an excerpt from the comics by Father Gabriel (via The Walking Dead wiki):
When it all started, I was here alone. It was late at night when I first heard of everything. I got scared - I locked up - just to be safe. The next morning, they started coming. Neighbors, friends... members of my congregation... Not many at first, then more as the days went on. They wanted a safe place to stay - a sanctuary. I turned them all away. I only had so much food - I needed to be sure I could survive long enough to be rescued. I couldn't have those people in - I'd starve. I chose my life over theirs.
There's been some speculation that the character is responsible for Bath Greene's disappearance in the TV version.
Gilliam might not be the only new cast member next season. Former UGA football star Chase Vasser tweeted (and then deleted) that he had landed a role on the show but that has never been confirmed. E! News also reported that 17-year-old Burton would be introduced in the Season 5 premiere. His character is described as a young boy who lost his leg but "does not let his disability keep him down."
Are you excited for Season 5 of "The Walking Dead?"
