Could Jon Bernthal Be Leaving The Walking Dead?

The internet is abuzz with reports that actor Jon Bernthal is in the early phase of talks to join Frank Darabont's new TNT pilot, L.A. Noir. According to Variety, Bernthal, who plays Shane Walsh on the hit AMC series The Walking Dead is still in the discussion stage of talks to play Joe Teague, an LAPD cop who plays a key role in the ongoing war between the LAPD and the Los Angeles underworld in the 1940s and 50s.

L.A. Noir is Frank Darabont's newest venture, after his departure from The Walking Dead as showrunner and executive producer for the show. The pilot for L.A. Noir was greenlit by TNT earlier this month, although the network declined to comment whether the talks were indeed happening. The project is a period drama based on John Buntin's book, L.A. Noir: The Struggle for the Soul of America's Most Seductive City, which depicts the power struggle between the LA Police Chief William Parker and gangster Mickey Cohen.

Although it's unclear whether Bernthal will continue his role on The Walking Dead, there were rumors that he wished to be released from his contract with the show following Darabont's departure. According to issue #6 of the Robert Kirkman graphic novels upon which the series is based upon, Bernthal's character Shane has already outlived his comic book counterpart, but the show hardly follow its source material at this point.

The Walking Dead returns to AMC on Sunday, February 12th.