The Latest "Walking Dead" Victim Was "Happy" to Be Written Off the Show

Trouble in the opposite-of-paradise?

Spoilers ahead for the latest episode of The Walking Dead, Season 9’s "Evolution".

Most actors who secure a gig on a long-running, widely-watched TV program usually don’t want to be eviscerated on-screen.

But not Tom Payne.

The man who plays comic book fave Jesus has told The Hollywood Reporter he’s "happy" to leave the show, having been "frustrated with what the character had been doing".

"It's an amazing show and I was so honoured to be a part of it, but at the same time, being the same character without anything fun to do is a bit frustrating."

The Walking Dead showrunners apparently responded to that feedback by having him stabbed by the not-so-undead new villains, The Whisperers. This, despite the fact that Jesus is still alive in the comic book series.

(If you want to know the vibe of The Whisperers, well...

#TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/xYpORxwkz8

— Hershel Greene (@HershelGreene1) November 26, 2018

In the interview, Payne notes the irony his Jesus had finally gotten his iconic sword and top-knot, only to get killed off. He also said he was "disappointed" that the show didn’t make more of Jesus’ sexuality, given he’s one of only a few queer characters on TV.

thank you tom payne ❣️ pic.twitter.com/7asNjLXBIu

— rafaella🎈 (@twdasfck) November 26, 2018

You can read Payne’s full exit interview with THR here, where they ask if he’ll appear in any of the spin-off movies starring Andrew Lincoln AKA Rick Grimes.

"I would never say never, but I would only want to do it if it was good material," he says.

"I don't have any interest in being there in the background, or showing up just for the sake of doing it."

Header Image: AMC