Interview: Hal Cumpston Reflects on The Development of Silas

Hal Cumpston as Silas – The Walking Dead: World Beyond _ Season 1, Episode 3 – Photo Credit: Macall Polay/AMC

Silas’ journey so far on The Walking Dead World Beyond is sad. Knowing that his father was abusive towards him and his mother really tramutized him. Anyone that suffers from that dark past, I would have sympathy for and I do for Silas. On this exclusive quick interview, Hal Cumpston breaks down the development of Silas on the most recent episode of The Walking Dead World Beyond.

How did you mentally prepare for your flashback scenes before the cameras started rolling?

Hal: I was very excited and ready to go for this episode for a while so there wasn’t too much trouble trying to get into character.

There is one thing that your character and Felix has in common and that is, that their fathers were not great role models to them when they were teenagers and young adults. Have you and Nico Tortorella talked about that behind the scenes?

Hal: We filmed such a long time ago I can’t remember discussing it exactly. We spent 6 months with each other so there isn’t really a topic we didn’t delve into. 

How intense was it for Silas to know that the first walker that he killed, is his father? And will we find out if his mom forgave him?

Hal: Silas is still intensely haunted by his past in particular having to kill his father twice. And I cannot answer the second question for now.

The first season is going to conclude soon. What are your favorite memories being part of World Beyond’s first season?

Hal: My mind is a bit hazy about particular memories from set but it was definitely a lot of fun. I’d say the overall experience that I get to be so lucky to do this as a job is definitely what sticks with me the most. But to give a funny memory there was a hilarious shocker where a cake was arranged for Annet’s “Birthday” yet low and behold it wasn’t her birthday. Another time that was funny was a day on episode 3 where I couldn’t make eye contact with Nicolas Cantu in an emotion scene because Nick, Nico and I had the giggles.

How challenging was it for you at first when you were first introduced into this universe of The Walking Dead?

Hal: I was pretty all over the place emotionally as I didn’t have a point of reference, it being my first US audition. The overall feeling was more of a “I’m so lucky to be here” than being a challenging or daunting experience. I did feel pretty comfortable pretty quickly thankfully. The fact all I had to do was act and I had money for the first time in my life was an easier version of life than the previous years working non-stop for little moneys on my indie film.

If there are any two characters between the main show and Fear The Walking Dead that you would like to see Silas interact with, who would they be?

Hal: Rick and Daryl probably. Sorry boring answer but that’s who realistically would probably be the coolest.

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Julian Cannon

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