Anticipation for Walker: Independence: Welcome to the Wild West!

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Katherine McNamara To Star In ‘Walker: Independence’ CW Pilot As Abby Walker
By Nellie Andreeva      March 16, 2022 
https://deadline.com/2022/03/katherine-mcnamara-walker-independence-cw-pilot-abby-walker-1234980719/ 

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EXCLUSIVE: Arrow alumna Katherine McNamara is set as the female lead opposite Matt Barr in the CW’s pilot Walker: Independence, executive produced by Walker‘s Jared Padalecki.

Walker: Independence, a Walker origin story, is set in the late 1800s and follows Abby Walker (McNamara), an affluent Bostonian whose husband is murdered before her eyes while on their journey out West. On her quest for revenge, Abby crosses paths with Hoyt Rawlins (Barr), a lovable rogue in search of purpose. Abby and Hoyt’s journey takes them to Independence, Texas, where they encounter diverse, eclectic residents running from their own troubled pasts and chasing their dreams. Our newfound family will struggle with the changing world around them, while becoming agents of change themselves in a town where nothing is what it seems.

Originally from Boston’s high society, Abby is a tough-minded woman, moving across the country with her husband to a new life in Independence. After her husband is killed by a horse thief in the night, Abby wanders grief-stricken through the brush and finally into the town of Independence. She takes on the name of “Walker” and sets about building her strength (personal and financial), because she’s going to be the first Walker to go to war against overwhelming odds. The first but not the last…

It is unclear how the 1800s Abby Walker and Hoyt Rawlins are related to the present day’s Abeline Walker (Molly Hagan) and her sons, Cordell Walker (Padalecki) and Liam Walker (Keegan Allen), as well as Cordell’s best friend Hoyt Rawlins, who was played on the mothership series by Barr in a recurring arc.

In addition to Barr, McNamara joins previously announced series regulars Philemon Chambers, Lawrence Kao, Greg Hovanessian and Justin Johnson Cortez.

 

Edited March 17, 2022 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Previous casting announcements...

‘Walker: Independence’: Philemon Chambers Joins CW Pilot As Series Regular
By Denise Petski  March 14, 2022
https://deadline.com/2022/03/walker-independence-philemon-chambers-cw-pilot-series-regular-1234978349/ 

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EXCLUSIVE: Philemon Chambers (Single All The Way) is set as a series regular opposite Matt Barr in CBS Studios’ CW pilot Walker: Independence, executive produced by Jared Padalecki.
*  *  *
Chambers will play Augustus ‘Gus’, a striking Black man with eyes filled with a world of experience, Gus is the deputy sheriff in Independence. Polite, careful, even-tempered, and genuinely willing to help, he’s not giving out his opinion of his new boss, Tom Davidson, to anyone.

‘Walker: Independence’: Lawrence Kao Joins CW Prequel Pilot
By Denise Petski    March 11, 2022
https://deadline.com/2022/03/walker-independence-lawrence-kao-cw-pilot-1234976312/ 

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EXCLUSIVE: Wu Assassins star Lawrence Kao is set as a lead opposite Matt Barr in CBS Studios’ CW pilot Walker: Independence, executive produced by Jared Padalecki.
*  *  *
Kao will play Kai. A younger Chinese man with a kind face, fluent in English, Kai runs a local laundry, in partner with the older, more taciturn Bowen Sing. A former railroad worker, Kai has settled into his new life in Independence, where he meets Abby. He quickly befriends her, offering Abby her first meal and a friendly word of advice about staying in Independence.

Greg Hovanessian Joins The CW’s ‘Walker: Independence’ Pilot As Series Regular
By Matt Grobar    March 10, 2022 
https://deadline.com/2022/03/walker-independence-adds-greg-hovanessian-as-series-regular-1234975716/ 

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EXCLUSIVE: Greg Hovanessian (Another Life) will star alongside Matt Barr as a series regular in The CW’s Walker: Independence pilot.
*  *  *
Hovanessian will play Tom Davidson, the new Sheriff in Independence. Tom’s handsome for someone you don’t know is the devil. And Abby has reason to believe that Tom is a very bad man indeed. Quick to take over Abby’s late husband Liam’s job, Tom is now a smiling power in the town.

Matt Barr To Star In ‘Walker: Independence’ CW Pilot As Hoyt Rawlins
By Nellie Andreeva    February 28, 2022 
https://deadline.com/2022/02/matt-barr-ctar-walker-independence-cw-pilot-hoyt-rawlins-1234962069/ 

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EXCLUSIVE: How’s this for a strong lineage? Matt Barr, who played 2020s Hoyt Rawlins on the CW’s Walker, also will play 1800s Hoyt Rawlins in the network’s pilot Walker: Independence. Barr has been been tapped as the male lead in the project, executive produced by Walker‘s Jared Padalecki.
*  *  *
Barr’s Rawlins is a gambler and an outlaw who lays low in the town of Independence. Cocky, confident, brash and a bit foolhardy, he’s been having an on-again, off-again affair with rancher’s daughter Lucia Montero — but after meeting Abby, Hoyt’s wandering eye appears to have frozen in place. Well aware that Abby is a straight arrow, Hoyt realizes he might have a lot to learn from her, seeing someone who might help him step away from the life of an outlaw, taking a side for change to fight for truth, justice and the Texan way.

‘Walker: Independence’: Justin Johnson Cortez Joins CW Pilot
By Denise Petski  February 25, 2022
https://deadline.com/2022/02/walker-independence-justin-johnson-cortez-cw-pilot-jared-padalecki-1234960332/ 

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EXCLUSIVE: Justin Johnson Cortez (911: Lone Star) is set as a series regular on CBS Studios’ CW pilot Walker: Independence, executive produced by Jared Padalecki.
*  *  *
Cortez will play Calian. A member of an Indigenous scouting party outside Independence, Calian speaks fluent English, and has mixed feelings about the influx of the white settlers out West. Calian is curious to their innovations, their music, their culture but remains wary about losing his tribal lands. After spotting Abby half-dead in the brush, Calian saves her and takes her to the outskirts of Independence — he knows better than to walk into town, escorting a white woman.

 

Edited March 18, 2022 by tv echo

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New casting announcement...

‘Walker: Independence’: Katie Findlay To Co-Star In CW Prequel Pilot
By Denise Petski   March 18, 2022 
https://deadline.com/2022/03/walker-independence-katie-findlay-cw-prequel-pilot-jared-padalecki-1234982118/ 

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EXCLUSIVE: Katie Findlay is set as a series regular opposite Matt Barr and Katherine McNamara in the CW’s Walker: Independence pilot, executive produced by Walker‘s Jared Padalecki.
*  *  *
Findlay will play Kate, a burlesque dancer, who is in fact a federal agent, in town to investigate the secret workings of Independence, and she’s got her sharply observant eye on the new sheriff in town.

 

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Hallmark Star KATHERINE MCNAMARA Reveals Details on New CW Series WALKER: INDEPENDENCE
Hallmark Happenings Podcast   Mar 19, 2022

-- When asked if Walker: Independence is going to be filmed in Texas, KM: "I don't know exactly where we're filming yet. I have literally just found out that all of this is coming together. Um, but I'm so excited. You know, I've had friends that have worked in the Walker Universe, if that's what we call it, and been a part of the Walker legacy, and say nothing but wonderful things. And everyone that I've met so far has been nothing but warm and welcoming and just lovely. Um, you know, since the pandemic, I've been craving having that sort of show home and being able to build a story from day one and from the ground up. And that's - that's ultimately what we'll be doing here. Um, and also to be back on The CW is going to be fantastic. You know, I had a great time with Arrow and, you know, The Flash and the little pop-arounds that I've done. Uh, but it'll be nice to be back and - and to build something - a new old chapter, as it were, of this kind of Walker legacy and to - to find out how the Walkers became the Walkers, and - and to be playing the first Walker, um, is - is a huge honor, and I'm very, very excited. You know, I'm from Kansas City. Can't take me too far out of the prairie... I'm still a prairie girl at heart. So I'm excited to dive in."

-- When asked about her new outfits for Walker: Independence, KM: "I'm very excited. You know, they seem to be very dedicated to keeping the authenticity of the period. And, um, the nerd in me is so excited for all of that, be it the sets and the costumes and the props and learning even just about all of the history. I've already started doing, uh, some research about, you know, women on the frontier and what life was like."

-- KM: "You know, Abby is an incredibly special character and, um, someone that I've very honored to be having the opportunity to bring to life and - and so thrilled with even the bits of her that I've learned about so far. I think folks are really going to dig this story. And, you know, having Matt Barr along, who's been a part of the Walker legacy, to come reprise his own ancestor, it's, uh - it's gonna be a lot of fun to see how all of that plays out."

-- When asked what her character, Abby, is going to be up to in Walker: Independence, KM: "I really can't say and I don't know a whole lot yet... I know she's got a bit of, um - a bit of a journey to go through. And, you know, the Walkers are - are a tough - a tough family, and they've been through good times and bad times. And Abby is  no different, being the first of the Walkers. So, it'll be a real pleasure to bring a character to life that represents the origins of the legacy of a family that is so beloved."

Edited March 20, 2022 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Larry Teng is an EP and the director of the pilot for Walker: Independence....

Edited March 21, 2022 by tv echo

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[TheView]

I think this one will get a series order 

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‘Walker: Independence’ Pilot at CW Casts Gabriela Quezada (EXCLUSIVE)
By Joe Otterson   March 30, 2022
https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/walker-independence-pilot-cw-gabriela-quezada-1235219025/ 

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The “Walker: Independence” pilot at The CW has cast Gabriela Quezada in a recurring guest star role, Variety has learned exclusively.
*  *  *
Quezada will appear as Lucia Montero. The daughter of ranchers Francis and Anna Maria Montero, and the older sister of Luis Montero, Lucia has a problem: she’s in love with Rawlins, and no matter what he does, with her or against anyone else, Lucia is overwhelmed by romantic chemistry whenever he is in the room.

 

‘

 

Edited March 31, 2022 by tv echo

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Edited April 4, 2022 by tv echo

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In the following interview, KM said that she did a chemistry test on Zoom with Matt Barr for Walker: Independence...

Katherine McNamara live with Hollywoodlife April 12 2022
D-Di    Apr 12, 2022

 

 

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Edited April 29, 2022 by tv echo

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Upfronts 2022: Roundup Of Latest Pilot Buzz
By Nellie Andreeva    May 6, 2022
https://deadline.com/2022/05/pilots-2022-buzz-abc-cbs-nbc-fox-the-cw-1235018049/

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The CW’s three pilots this season — all based on underlying IP — remain strong contenders as the cuts start to come in: Supernatural prequel The Winchesters, Walker origin story Walker: Independence and Gotham Knights. Because of their pedigree, solid execution and the fact that this is half the number of pilots the CW has normally picked up over the past decade, I hear there is a possibility for all of them to go to series.

Edited May 8, 2022 by tv echo

[Featherhat]

I'm glad it's picked up, if only because I like Kat McNamara and Matt Barr. Despite Walker's solid-ish fanbase I do wonder at the potential audience for this show. Then again the CW's last historical show, Reign managed to hang around for 4 seasons and when that pilot was first announced I was convinced it would never see the light of day. I am interested to see the CW's take on a Western, just as their take on 16th C France was.....bonkers. 

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Walker Prequel Starring Kat McNamara Is Coming to the CW Next Season
Lauren Piester   May 12, 2022, 
https://www.tvguide.com/news/walker-prequel-starring-kat-mcnamara-is-coming-to-the-cw/

Supernatural and Walker Prequel Spinoffs, Gotham Knights Get Series Orders as CW Shakes Up Slate
By Matt Webb Mitovich / May 12 2022
https://tvline.com/2022/05/12/supernatural-the-winchesters-prequel-spinoff-series-order-cw/

Edited May 13, 2022 by tv echo

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Edited May 15, 2022 by tv echo

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‘Walker: Independence’ Screening & Panel Announced for ATX TV Festival
By Briar    May 13, 2022
https://www.nerdsandbeyond.com/2022/05/13/walker-independence-screening-panel-announced-for-atx-tv-festival/

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ATX TV Festival has announced that the newly picked up series Walker: Independence will have a screening of the pilot, as well as a panel.

The screening will take place on Saturday, June 4 at the State Theatre. The panelists are still to be determined.
*  *  *
The ATX TV Festival runs from June 2-5, 2022 in Austin, Texas. You can find more info on how to purchase badges, here.

According to the ATX TV Festival schedule, the Walker: Independence panel is scheduled for Saturday, June 4, at 10:00am (CDT).

Edited May 16, 2022 by tv echo

[tv echo]

It will be an all-Walker Thursday this fall on The CW... 

CW Fall Schedule Has Winchesters, Stargirl, All-Walker Thursdays; Flash, Superman & Lois Held for Midseason
By Ryan Schwartz / May 19 2022
https://tvline.com/2022/05/19/the-cw-fall-schedule-2022/

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THURSDAY
8 pm Walker
9 pm WALKER INDEPENDENCE

First Photos Released for ‘Walker: Independence’
By Briar    May 19, 2022
https://www.nerdsandbeyond.com/2022/05/19/first-photos-released-for-walker-independence/ 

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The CW has dropped the first photos from Walker: Independence, the Walker prequel that is scheduled to air this Fall.

The photos are a look at Abby Walker, played by Katherine McNamara, Hoyt Rawlins, played by Matt Barr, and Justin Johnson Cortez as Calian.

Official synopsis:

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Set in the late 1800s, an origin story of The CW’s current hit series “Walker,” WALKER INDEPENDENCE follows Abby Walker (Katherine McNamara, “Arrow”), an affluent and tough-minded Bostonian whose husband is murdered before her eyes while on their journey out West. After crossing paths with Calian (Justin Johnson Cortez, “911: Lone Star”), a curious Apache tracker, Abby arrives in the town of Independence, Texas, where she encounters diverse and eclectic residents running from their pasts, chasing their dreams, and keeping their own secrets, including Kate Carver (Katie Findlay, “The Carrie Diaries”), an idiosyncratic burlesque dancer with perhaps too keen an interest in Abby’s origins, and Kai (Lawrence Kao, “Wu Assassins”), a soulful Chinese immigrant who runs a local restaurant/laundry and offers Abby friendship without agenda. Abby also literally runs into Hoyt Rawlins (Matt Barr, “Walker”), a slippery rogue, thief, and con artist with a dented heart of gold who quickly eyes Abby as a mark, until she turns the tables on him. In seeking justice for her husband, Abby encounters Independence’s noble deputy sheriff, Augustus (Philemon Chambers, “Single All the Way”), and his new boss, Sheriff Tom Davidson (Greg Hovanessian, “Another Life”), who she has reason to believe is a very bad man indeed. Abby and Hoyt soon find themselves precariously aligned, both seeking to uncover the truth about the identity of Abby’s husband’s killer, and vow to save Independence – a frontier boomtown where nothing is what it seems.

 

 

From the NYC stage of The CW's upfronts presentation this morning...

Edited May 19, 2022 by tv echo

[Featherhat]

The trailer was good. It's clear they've spent some money by CW standards to make it look good. It will be interesting to see how an outright Western (modern version) fairs on the network. 

One of the things giving me pause is the revenge plot. Unless they're told really well I tend to end up getting bored before too long because it becomes lather, rinse and repeat.

[tv echo]

Walker: Independence | Legacy | Season Trailer | The CW
The CW Network   May 19, 2022

‘Walker: Independence’: Katherine McNamara & Cast Say It’s ‘Not Your Mama’s Western’
Kelli Boyle  May 19, 2022
https://www.tvinsider.com/1045294/walker-independence-katherine-mcnamara-western-the-cw/ 

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Abby sets off on a mission to avenge her husband, recruiting con artist Hoyt Rawlins (played by Matt Barr, who also played a different Hoyt Rawlins in Walker) to help her. This new Hoyt, according to Barr, is the “same DNA, same core,” but “dangerous.” And while the show will feel familiar, McNamara says viewers will quickly learn that Walker: Independence sets itself apart from the genre with a diverse cast of actors and modern storytelling.

“It’s not the western you’re expecting,” she explains. “Every character is not what they seem on the surface. It has the feel and the nostalgia of a western, but it’s a very modern story with characters that are going through real things that are so fascinating.”

Philemon Chambers (Augustus, Single All the Way) tells TV Insider Walker: Independence rewrites “narratives that have been used in westerns so often.” Their Wild West showcases the true diversity of the time period, which too often is ignored in other stories in the genre.

“The frontier, in reality, was deeply diverse and queer, and all kinds of things,” adds Katie Findlay (Kate Carver, How To Get Away With Murder). “You don’t often get to see that because history is written by white guys. It’s really nice to be in a cast that represents more of the reality of the landscape of a time where so many people were coming together and struggling to survive.”
*  *  *
“[The music] is not quite what Bridgerton does, but they make a choice a la Bridgerton that is very modern,” McNamara reveals. As Cortez adds, “it has this modern twist that’s kind of rock ‘n roll,” and Barr compares the musical choices to Baz Luhrmann and Guy Ritchie films.

“We’re a little bit country, a little bit rock ‘n roll,” McNamara explains. “And it’s like Katie said, it’s ultimately a story about people coming together and surviving in the best and worst of circumstances.”

 

 

 

Edited May 20, 2022 by tv echo

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The 8 Hottest New Shows Announced During Upfronts 2022
By Selome Hailu   May 20, 2022
https://variety.com/lists/best-new-shows-2022-cw-cbs-nbc-abc/

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6  'Walker: Independence' (The CW)
...
In 2021, The CW debuted “Walker,” its reboot of the Chuck Norris-led ‘90s series “Walker, Texas Ranger.” Now, the network has ordered prequel series “Walker: Independence.”

Set in the late 1800s, “Walker: Independence” stars Katherine McNamara as Abby Walker, an affluent Bostonian whose husband is murdered before her eyes while on their journey out West. Abby sets out on a quest for revenge and crosses paths with Hoyt Rawlins (Matt Barr), a lovable rogue in search of purpose. Abby and Hoyt’s journey takes them to Independence, Texas, where they encounter diverse, eclectic residents running from their own troubled pasts and chasing their dreams.

Anna Fricke co-wrote the story with Seamus Fahey, who wrote the teleplay. Executive producers include Fahey; Fricke and Laura Terry via Pursued by a Bear; “Walker” star Jared Padalecki, Dan Lin and Lindsey Liberatore via Rideback; and pilot director Larry Teng. CBS Studios produces.

Edited May 23, 2022 by tv echo

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... The pilot for Walker: Independence will screen at the festival on Saturday, June 4 at the State Theatre at 10 AM.

A panel will follow the screening, and the panelists include Kat McNamara (Abby Walker), Matt Barr (Hoyt Rawlings), Justin Johnson-Cortez (Calian), and series executive producer/showrunner Seamus Fahey. The ATX TV Fest website also mentions the possibility of additional panelists as the date approaches, so keep an eye out for any surprise last-minute additions.

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Matt's Inside Line: Scoop on CSI: Vegas, Ghosts, Blood & Treasure, The Orville, the Walker Prequel, WWDITS and More
By Matt Webb Mitovich / June 1 2022
https://tvline.com/lists/csi-vegas-bigger-season-2/ 

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On Walker Independence, is Katherine McNamara’s Abigail a Walker by blood or by marriage? –Ivan
First off, for the uninitiated: McNamara explained to TVLine at the CW Upfront that she is playing Cordell’s “great-great-great-great grandmother — so I’ve gone from playing Stephen Amell’s daughter in the future [on Arrow] to Jared Padalecki’s grandmother, several times removed!” But as for why Abby bears the Walker surname…. you’ll have to tune in Thursday nights this fall. As showrunner Seamus Fahey tells Inside Line, “We will learn of the origins of the Walkers in every sense.”

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Look who's going to be moderating the Walker: Independence panel at the ATX TV Festival tomorrow (Saturday, June 4)...

Jared Padalecki Added to ATX TV Festival
By Briar   June 1, 2022
https://www.nerdsandbeyond.com/2022/06/01/jared-padalecki-added-to-atx-tv-festival/ 

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When we previously reported the panelists for Walker: Independence for the ATX TV Festival, the moderator was to be determined. Now, however, ATX TV Festival’s website lists the moderator as the Executive Producer, Jared Padalecki, who also stars in Walker.

Padalecki will be appearing and apparently moderating the panel, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 4.
*  *  *
Other panelists include Seamus Fahey, Kat McNamara, Matt Barr, and Justin Johnson-Cortez. Walker: Independence is set to premiere on The CW this Fall.

Katherine McNamara and Matt Barr Preview The CW’s ‘Walker Independence’
By Sophia Soto   June 2, 2022
https://thenerdsofcolor.org/2022/06/02/katherine-mcnamara-and-matt-barr-preview-the-cws-walker-independence/ 

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What made the project stand out to you?
Katherine McNamara: I think what made it stand out to me is that it’s a Western that tries to refresh and reinvent what a Western is. We take the term independence very interestingly, and it comes with its pros and cons, but it’s about this woman who comes into the West and has a clean slate but is surrounded by people who are willing to be there and they survive together.
Matt Barr: I think it was sort of our… I guess the music video version of a Western, but it feels fresh. We got some modern music and the characters feel fresh and very, very current, and the dynamics are all relatable. I’m excited for a new generation to meet Westerns. It’s a fun sandbox.
*  *  *
You led me into my next question perfectly, because I am a such fan of the different dynamics and relationships. Do you have a personal favorite that you’re most excited for fans to see?
McNamara: I don’t think I have a favorite because all of the characters are so rich. I have no idea where it’s gonna go, we have so much opportunity with all of the different intersections of people.
Barr: I’m excited about ours, Abby and Hoyt’s, because we’re just from different worlds, two different people. It’s like gonna be the whole Romancing the Stone thing, you know? City girl, kind of country boy, but it’d be fun to see us kind of come together too.
McNamara: Very strait-laced, very wild and then it’s…
Barr: I could use a little of this, you can maybe use a little of this.
McNamara: Yeah, they complement each other very well, but they butt heads a lot.
*  *  *
Walker is so big, what do you think that this show is going to add to that world?
McNamara: I think there are so many things that people expect from Westerns and we give you a bit of that with the expansiveness, the feel, and the nostalgia, but we also give you a lot of what you wouldn’t expect. I think that’s what people are going to really enjoy.
Barr: You know how Walker is set in Austin? I think of our show as like, here’s how Austin was built, here’s how the Texas Rangers were born. This is the beginning.
McNamara: This is the OG story of how the Walkers came to be and I think it’s gonna be an exciting history to tell.
*  *  *
Are there any dream storylines that you would like to eventually see with your characters?
McNamara: I think the biggest thing is I can’t wait to see the West affects Abby because she is very educated, very straight-laced, very driven to what she wants, but the West is never straightforward. I’m curious to see how her strength and flaws combine as she has to negotiate that world.
Barr: Good question. I want Hoyt to have like a little son or daughter that’s a mini Hoyt that he has to teach how to be a little mini gunslinger. It would be cute if it was a little daughter and she’s got a little hat on, her boots and he’s teaching her how she can walk into any bar and like con the guys out of their cards or something.
McNamara: We’ll get Hoyt a little tumbleweed eventually.
Barr: Yeah, a little mini Hoyt!

Edited June 3, 2022 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Coming up today...

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From the ATX TV Festival yesterday (June 4)...

‘Walker Independence’: Kat McNamara On Creating A Different Type Of Western For Today—ATX
By Rosy Cordero   June 4, 2022 
https://deadline.com/2022/06/walker-independence-atx-festival-panel-1235038363/

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ATX festival-goers were treated to the first episode of the upcoming CW series, Walker spinoff prequel Walker Independence on Saturday morning ahead of a panel with executive producer Jared Padalecki and stars Kat McNamara, Matt Barr, and Justin Johnson-Cortez.
*  *  *
“Seamus wanted ya’ll to know what inspired an original story for Walker and the answer is that he always wanted to do a western,” Padalecki said. “The first TV spec script he ever wrote was a western and when he wrote for Walker, he created then subsequently killed a character named Hoyt Rawlings and everyone was mad at him, me included. He talked to Anna Fricke who runs Walker about doing a spinoff prequel, and this was in January of 2021 when they were having these discussions. We were watching a rough cut of the Walker episode where Hoyt dies and that’s when [Seamus] realized that was part of the way in to see the first generation of not just Walkers, but other characters that are part of the series.”

McNamara spoke to Deadline after the panel about why playing badass Abby, a woman who is making a future for herself in a new town with the help of a diverse group of strangers.

“Something that drew me to this project is the fact that Abby is not your traditional woman in the West. She has the strong grit that you often see in these female characters but [the writers] don’t shy away from putting her through the wringer as well,” she shared. “She has a huge range of vulnerability and strength throughout this whole story. And there’s a lot more to be discovered about her.”
*  *  *
“Her past is something that I’ve spoken with Seamus about a little bit but I don’t have much I can share yet. But this is what’s so beautiful about Abby, you get to see her relationship with Liam at the beginning and that they have a marriage that’s more of a partnership than the traditional husband and wife of the 1870s and there is something different about her from the start,” McNamara said. “She has this tenacity and this timeless independence for lack of a better word, that speaks of a different era and she is willing to question the status quo. There’s a reason she left Boston. There’s a reason she and Liam want to create a life of their own and they want to create a town of their own making and have their own justice and really start fresh in a lot of ways. Unfortunately, they don’t get to do so together, but Abby certainly is not going to be stopped by tragedy.”

‘Walker Independence’: Matt Barr & Justin Johnson Cortez On Telling Authentic Stories; Possible Love Triangle—ATX
By Rosy Cordero   June 4, 2022 
https://deadline.com/2022/06/walker-independence-matt-barr-possible-love-triangle-atx-1235038408/

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Matt Barr and Justin Johnson Cortez have a lot to tease following the premiere of the CW’s Walker Independence at the ATX Festival in Austin. The pair star as Hoyt Rawlings and Calian, respectively, in the CW Walker prequel spinoff which was recently picked up to series.
*  *  *
“Those are my favorite kind of characters to watch. They’re really dynamic, right?” Barr said of antiheroes like Hoyt. “Redemption stories are just more fun. I remember watching Point Break and being obsessed with the Bodhi [Patrick Swayze] character who’s an actual criminal robbing banks but you’re absolutely rooting for the bad guys. Now the antihero has become very much in vogue. What’s fun is that no matter what Hoyt does and no matter how many steps backward he takes we feel that nobility in him. I think that will follow him forever as long as he’s pursuing the right and noble thing.”
*  *  *
“When this opportunity came up, I was a bit nervous because I wanted to make sure that the character was going to be represented in a positive way,” Johnson Cortez, who is Yaqui and Latino, said.

He continued, “I think there’s a little bit of the West in Calian, as well, and he should be unpredictable and a little dangerous. But what was really important to me is that we see him smile and that you’ll see him laugh. I didn’t want to represent the same old image of Native American characters on screen, so I’m excited to dive in deeper and show the complexities behind this character. Show how much fun they can be.”
*  *  *
“I can tease a little bit about Hoyt’s family which has a background that intersects with the Alamo, bringing in some real Texas history,” said Barr. “It informs why he is the way he is and why he’s chosen to lead the life he lives. I’m excited to explore that more.”
*  *  *
“Getting Calian into town, we wanted to be able to tell this story authentically and not like, oh, he finds this white woman who is strong and beautiful and captivating—that can’t be the reason. That’s not the story we want to tell,” shared Johnson Cortez.

He added, “We don’t want to tell the story of this Indian assimilating into western culture. But there is a way to tell this story by sharing his interests and curiosity in the town in the expansion of the West authentically. That’s going to come out when exploring his past through his history and experience in the world up until that point.”

But does that mean there is no possibility of a love triangle between Abby, Hoyt, and Calian?

“Hey, I’m not saying that at all!” Johnson Cortez said slyly.

 

Nerds & Beyond live-tweeted from the Walker: Independence panel at ATX TV Festival yesterday...

Edited June 6, 2022 by tv echo

[tv echo]

‘Walker: Independence’: Series Cast and EP Jared Padalecki Talk Reinventing the Western at ATX TV Fest
By Brianna    June 7, 2022
https://www.nerdsandbeyond.com/2022/06/07/walker-independence-series-cast-and-ep-jared-padalecki-talk-reinventing-the-western-at-atx-tv-fest/ 

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[EP Jared] Padalecki asked [showrunner/EP Seamus] Fahey if he had anything he’d like shared with the audience, and boy did he. Padalecki whipped out at least four pages of printed notes from between his legal pad pages and began reading the showrunner’s own inspiration regarding the origin story. Fahey always wanted to do a western and upon writing for Walker, he wrote and then killed off a quickly beloved character (Hoyt Rawlins) and everyone was mad at him for it. Fahey met with Walker writer Anna Fricke about a prequel to explore not just the history of Walker’s family but other characters within the world. Who was the first generation?

Padalecki elaborated that this prequel series is highlighting a burgeoning town on the cusp of becoming something else with great change happening. The show’s goal will be to explore how people discover their town and themselves.

On her role as Abby Walker, [Katherine] McNamara shared that her dream role has been a period piece. Upon reading the script she shares that she quickly realized this isn’t your typical western but one for a new generation. Abby as a character has her entire life turned upside down in the first fifteen minutes of the pilot episode, and she chooses to have more agency over her life and build a new one in Independence. McNamara added that the cast and team have clicked from day one and she’s excited to remain part of The CW family.
*  *  *
What’s surprising about [Matt] Barr’s own rough and tumble outlaw character is his empathy for Abby, and this was something that spoke to the actor. The nobility within those outlaw characters has always been a draw for Barr, “you see them searching for their moral compass and it’s endearing and you root for that.” His more dangerous version of Hoyt is one of the things that drew him to the role. Barr is also excited to work again with Fricke and still recalls his offer to play present-day Hoyt, “I remember she called me and said ‘Hill country Han Solo and his name is Hoyt’ and I was like ‘Yep. I’ll be there, tell me when.'” Barr elaborated on his love for telling a story set in the past when the priority was survival and no one escaped unchanged from the wild west. Barr’s request of any one story plot he can do would be to rob a train, which given the Hoyt we see in the pilot, wouldn’t be all that far-fetched for the gunslinging outlaw.

[Justin] Johnson-Cortez spoke on his portrayal of Calian which he was initially nervous about because native roles aren’t always shown in the best way. “A lot of the time my characters, it doesn’t end well for them,” he shared. “I loved the script and thought it was great, but wanted to make sure we were doing it right. After meeting you guys, the team, you really solidified that idea in me that you are going to do it right.” He plans to do all the fun stuff that cowboys do if the writers allow for it. Shoot bows, jump on trains, but also get real with everything and confront new content.
*  *  *
For historical buffs such as myself, Padalecki made clear that much research was done for the show in an effort to accurately demonstrate what a small Texas town might have looked like. “There is a town in Texas called Independence. This is not that town, this is a composite of Waterloo which became Austin, Independence. There were places we found where 30% of the cowboys were African American,” said Padalecki. “So we’ve got Gus, our deputy. Calian finds himself between his tribe and what we now call ‘the west.'” On that note, Johnson-Cortez stated it’s not unlike the world he lives in now as a person of mixed descent. Calian finds allies in situations that might be uncomfortable, one of which is Gus who is a “great ally” according to the actor. Abby will also likely become an ally for Calian who seem to find familiarity in each other in the pilot. On the diversity of the cast, Johnson-Cortez said he is excited to see representation of stories for African American, Native, and Chinese American individuals and see how the show expands on those characters we meet in the pilot.

From Fahey, Padalecki shared that they wanted to tell the western story not previously told. The goal is to balance the various views in this “remix” of the known western. All our main characters are trying to escape their troubled pasts and reinvent themselves alongside the growing town.
*  *  *
Barr turned the questions on Padalecki and asked what it’s been like to step behind the camera into the development role for Walker: Independence. “It’s been amazing,” said Padalecki of watching the process from casting to script creation and learning the background of those involved in the project. Watching the magic happen in just nine days of filming the pilot was a favorite of his. “You had to have your characters down pat and that’s why we went with the dream team.” With the uncertainty of the show’s run, given the nature of shows getting picked up and dropped rather quickly, Padalecki shared that they do have a general plan for the storyline already. However, he likened it to a road trip in which he is sure there will be pitstops and exits, shifting and changing the story as they go. An audience question, “Is Abigail pregnant?”, sparked a smile on Padalecki’s face, “I know the answer, but I can’t say.”

Edited June 8, 2022 by tv echo

[tv echo]

[tv echo]

Inside Line: Scoop on For All Mankind, The Boys, Animal Kingdom, Ghosts, Stranger Things, HIMYF, FBI and More
By Matt Webb Mitovich / June 24 2022
https://tvline.com/lists/sonya-walger-for-all-mankind-season-3-molly-fired-leaving/ 

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Will Walker Independence‘s Hoyt Rawlins be similar to or different from the 21st century Hoyt Rawlins seen on Walker? –Alex
Matt Barr answered that very question when I spoke to both him and leading lady Katherine McNamara on The CW’s Upfront red carpet. “There’s definitely the same DNA, the same heart…,” he said. “But [Walker‘]s Hoyt was more of a talker, and this guy is a man of action. He’s a little more dangerous.”

[tv echo]

EP Jared Padalecki talked about casting Katherine McNamara as Abby Walker in Walker: Independence...

Jared Padalecki Looks Back on ‘Walker’ Season 2 & Ahead to ‘Independence’
Damian Holbrook  June 23, 2022
https://www.tvinsider.com/1049661/walker-season-2-finale-jared-padalecki-walker-independence/ 

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Kat McNamara is an absolute delight.
You know how I was mentioning before, because these days during Covid, that you can’t really cast people in person? So when you’re casting No. 1 of the call sheet, that is who’s gonna to be the person that’s there every day and that’s doing interviews on the weekends and doing photo shoots in between takes and this and that. Well, we did our research. We called other shows she had worked on, other actors she had worked with, other producers and writers and — to a person — they all just sang her praises. They were all like, “Oh my God, she’s wonderful.” And like, in that way of “Please don’t hire her because we want her,” [Laughs]