Andrew Lincoln pushed to have The Walking Dead’s season-four finale end with an F-bomb. Last season ended with a scene that is very familiar to fans of Robert Kirkman’s comic series, when in issue No. 64, Rick mutters the line, “They’ll feel pretty stupid when they find out they’re f—ing with the wrong people,” after his group crosses paths with the a group of Hunters later revealed to be cannibals. On the AMC series, the season ended with a censored version of the line: “They’re going to feel pretty stupid when they find out … that they’re screwing with the wrong people.”
The alternate ending, which will be among the bonus features on The Walking Dead’s season four DVD set, was something Lincoln pushed to make it to air.
“The gloves certainly came off this season with Carol’s episode, Carl, losing Hershel and now this. I thought it would be an incredible moment to see the moral cop lay that one down,” Lincoln told The Hollywood Reporter immediately after the season four finale. “I think we’re going to save that for the hardcore fans. I did a few takes and said, ‘It’s done!’ and [showrunner] Scott [M. Gimple] said we had to do the other one. I said, ‘It’s amazing, we have to leave this in!’ “
Check out the alternate ending below. And for a preview of where things pick up in season five, check out the new trailer here and THR’s take on if that’s comics baddie Negan taking a swing at Bob in the clip. And in case you missed it, watch Gimple challenge a fan at show trivia in THR’s Superfan vs. Showrunner here.