As one of the biggest TV franchises in history, The Walking Dead hardly needs an introduction. With its controversial moments, its iconic characters, and its intense scenes, the series was an instant success, quickly becoming one of TV’s biggest and most exciting shows.

For years, production made magic happen for the fans at home. Fans know many behind the scenes stories, but few know of a specific rule that the cast and crew were forced to follow while shooting on one of the franchise’s most iconic and recognizable locations.

Let’s take a look at the rule the stars had to follow, and see what the franchise has in store for the future.

The Walking Dead Is One Of The Most Successful Shows Ever

In the landscape of television, few series have achieved the kind of remarkable success and enduring legacy as The Walking Dead. This post-apocalyptic drama, adapted from Robert Kirkman’s graphic novels, has not only reshaped the zombie genre but has also left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment.

The series premiered on October 31, 2010, and from its very first episode, it garnered an enthusiastic fan base. Over the years, it has consistently held a strong viewership. The show’s success can be quantified by its impressive ratings, which soared to unprecedented heights. In its heyday, The Walking Dead achieved ratings in the millions for a single episode, as reported by Nielsen ratings.

The show’s remarkable performance wasn’t confined to its domestic audience; it quickly became a global phenomenon. In fact, it has been dubbed the most-watched series in the history of cable television, as per AMC’s official website.

The Walking Dead didn’t limit its reach to the small screen. It spawned an entire universe of content, including the spin-off series Fear the Walking Dead and The Walking Dead: World Beyond. These extensions have allowed fans to delve deeper into the apocalyptic world and its characters.

The series got the job done each season, and this was only possible thanks to the cast and crew making magic happen behind the scenes. The entire crew stayed in line, and even followed a bizarre rule that was put in place.

They Cast And Crew Could Not Use Profanity

According to The Richest, “The homeowners of the farm house filmed in The Walking Dead Season 2 made it clear that zombies and bad language were not allowed on their property. It was a typical day on set when crew members watched Andrew Lincoln acting crazy as he would get into the Rick Grimes character which is the longest-living person in a show full of zombies and blood.”

This is interesting because the show has never shied away from using insanely gruesome scenes. In fact, this led to HBO passing on the show, per the site.

“The HBO network declined a deal to be the first to air The Walking Dead because of its gruesome scenes which are surprising because the network is known for violent shows that include The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire, and the prison show Oz.”

Digital Spy even notes that due to censorship rules in the country, the F Bomb is not allowed to be used on the show.

“Rotting corpses, gruesome violence: all fine and dandy, but no naughty words, please. So season four closed on a rather muted note, with Rick Grimes warning that Gareth and his cannibals were “screwing” with the wrong people – a watered-down version of the original comic book dialogue,” the site wrote.

Of course, The Walking Dead was able to get past any censorship problems, and turn into one of the most successful shows ever.

The series is officially done now, but the franchise is still pushing ahead.

The Franchise Is Still Thriving On The Small Screen

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon is an upcoming series that will be focusing on the iconic character.

Per Dexerto, the show’s synopsis reads, “In The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, Daryl washes ashore in France and struggles to piece together how he got there and why. The series tracks his journey across a broken but resilient France as he hopes to find a way back home. As he makes the journey, though, the connections he forms along the way complicate his ultimate plan.”

This has the potential to be a massive win for the franchise. Everyone loves Daryl Dixon, and he now has a chance to have his own show, while continuing to add more to the overall story.

The Walking Dead always pushed the envelope while on the air, except in the language department. Let’s see if its upcoming show will also be as strict with its language.