Cutty From The Wire To Play Tyreese On The Walking Dead
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HBO’s crime drama The Wire is one of the best television shows, maybe ever. And now AMC’s zombie smash The Walking Dead is bringing a little dab of the streets of Baltimore to the post-apocalyptic landscape. Chad Coleman, who played reformed drug dealer turned youth boxing coach Cutty, is joining the cast.
News came down recently that there will be another big addition to the cast in season three. Many of us anticipated that this would be Tyreese, a major character from Robert Kirkman’s comics who has thus far been absent. TV Guide confirmed this, saying Coleman will play the part.
The Walking Dead has made some significant departures from the source material, and season three is no exception to this trend. One of the biggest changes to the recent arc is the character of Tyreese. After Shane’s death—much earlier in the comics than the show—Tyreese, a former professional football player, becomes Rick’s (Andrew Lincoln) go-to guy. Daryl (Norman Reedus), who doesn’t exist in the comics, has stepped in to fill most of this role, but Tyreese has some good storylines. One involves Carol (Melissa McBride), and could potentially play out now that it’s confirmed she’s alive. He also has a romantic entanglement with Michonne (Danai Gurira). What can you do, he’s a handsome man.
Coleman is a good choice for the part. He has the acting chops to tackle the emotional component, as well as the imposing physical presence the part requires. He’s a big, tough guy, one who takes down an entire gymnasium full of walkers single-handedly. But like Rick, he also has a deep devotion to family, his daughter in this case, and his fair share of wounds.
The show has already skirted around most of Tyreese’s threads, so I’m curious to see what role he’ll play in the grand scheme of things. Will he be a long-term addition to the group, or will he show up just in time to make a dramatic exit?
Tyreese and Coleman will make their Walking Dead debuts on the eighth episode, “Made to Suffer,” which airs December 2nd.
