AMC has shut down production onThe Walking Dead Season 8, after a stuntman suffered life-threatening injuries during an on-set accident. Stuntman John Bernecker was severely injured on the Atlanta set ofThe Walking Dead, where he was transported to a local Atlanta hospital and production was halted. Here’s the statement released by AMC regarding this incident.
“We are saddened to report that John Bernecker, a talented stuntman forThe Walking Deadand numerous other television shows and films, suffered serious injuries from a tragic accident on set. He was immediately transported to an Atlanta hospital, and we have temporarily shut down production. We are keeping John and his family in our thoughts and prayers.”
Deadlinereports that John Bernecker suffered a serious head injuring after falling 30 feet to a concrete floor. No details were given about the scene he was filming, or how this accident onThe Walking Dead setoccurred. John Bernercker’s girlfriend Jennifer Cocker, who is also a stunt performer, released a brief statement on Facebook yesterday, which you’re able to see below.
“John deserves to be seen by every neorusurgeon and doctor there is until one of them sees the life we all know he has in him and bring him back to us… THIS ISNT FAIR.”
It isn’t clear how longWalking Dead productionwill be shut down for, or if this will have any impact on the premiere date. It’s possible that the cast and producers may have updates on this accident duringThe Walking Dead Comic-Con panel, which is scheduled to take place on Friday, July 21 from 12:15 PM to 1:15 PM in Hall H. The actors and stunt performers union SAG-AFTRA also released a statement after the accident, revealing that an investigation is under way.
“We have been informed of a serious injury to a SAG-AFTRA member on the set ofThe Walking Deadand are investigating the situation. As always, the safety and security of our members and others on set is of crucial concern to us and we are focused on this in our investigation. Our thoughts and prayers are with the performer and his family.”
The Walking DeadSeason 8 will follow the All Out War volumes of the comics, where Rick and his combined army comprised of the Hilltop Colony and The Kingdom will take on Negan and The Saviors in theirSanctuary. AMC has not announced a premiere date forThe Walking DeadSeason 8 yet, but that announcement will likely happen at San Diego Comic-Con. Stuntman John Bernecker has also worked on recent hit movies likeGet Out,LoganandThe Fate of the Furious, along with upcoming projects likeBlack Panther,RampageandEscape Plan 2.
