As many The Walking Dead viewers continue to wonder if fan favorite Daryl Dixon, played by Norman Reedus, will begin a romance with Beth or Carol this upcoming season, comic franchise creator and executive producer Robert Kirkman has floated a third option.
Despite forming a close bond with both ladies in past episodes, the quiet, rugged crossbow-wielding character may not be into women at all. According to Comicbook.com, in the letter section of theThe Walking Dead comic book issue No. 130, which was released on Wednesday, Kirkman responded to a question from a fan, who asked if the possibility of Daryl being gay had been considered.
"All I can say is that it's been discussed," the outlet quoted him as saying.
"We have very specific ideas about Daryl's sexuality (or the seeming lack thereof), and if there's ever a quiet period in the show where he's not consistently distracted by crossbowing...we'll tackle it in the show," Kirkman added.
Reedus is often asked about his character's love life (or lack thereof) on the hit post-apocalyptic zombie series, where "quiet" periods are scarce, and according to Comicbook.com, joked in a roundtable interview at 2014 San Diego Comic-Con that he was "hoping for a threesome with Melissa and Emily."
Emily Kinney (pictured above) portrays Beth Greene, who got closer to Daryl during the most recent fourth season. Melissa McBride plays Carol Peletier (pictured below), who befriended Daryl way back in season 1.
In an interview with Larry King in April, The Walking Dead showrunner and writer Scott M. Gimple responded to a fan who asked if Daryl will ever find love.
"I would say that Daryl has already found familial love," he said. "If you're talking romantic love, I'm going to say, ‘I think so.'"
The Walking Dead returns for season 5 on Oct. 12 on AMC (check out spoilers as well as a trailer).