Chandler Riggs Returns to Horror as The Walking Dead Alum Joins Cast of The Last Time

If there’s one thing The Walking Dead taught us, it’s that horror has a way of pulling you back in, sometimes kicking and screaming. Now, former Carl Grimes himself, Chandler Riggs, is once again answering the genre’s siren call. The actor has officially joined the cast of the upcoming horror film The Last Time, a project that’s already generating buzz among genre fans and TV obsessives alike. For viewers who grew up watching Riggs navigate a zombie apocalypse, this casting feels less like a surprise and more like destiny.

Riggs’ involvement instantly gives The Last Time some serious genre credibility. While he’ll forever be associated with AMC’s long-running zombie juggernaut, Riggs has spent recent years expanding his résumé beyond undead survival. His return to horror, however, feels like a savvy move both for the actor and for a film clearly aiming to attract fans who appreciate their scares with a side of emotional weight.

Details about The Last Time are being kept tightly under wraps (because what’s horror without a little mystery?), but what we do know suggests a project leaning heavily into atmosphere and dread rather than cheap jump scares. That’s good news. Even better? The production has enlisted heavyweight creature designer Neville Page, whose past work on Avatar, Cloverfield and Star Trek hints that this won’t be a low-effort, CGI-by-numbers affair. Practical effects lovers, rejoice.

Riggs isn’t alone in this descent into dread. The Last Time also stars Jake Satow (The Dropout), Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers, because cult sci-fi legends never die), Dominic Burgess (Palm Royale), John D’Aquino (Cory in the House, a deep cut that just unlocked a memory) and Addison Bowman (Outer Range). It’s a cast that blends genre credibility, TV pedigree, and a few “wait, them?” surprises, which frankly, is exactly what you want from a horror-thriller. Production is currently underway in Tampa and along Florida’s Gulf Coast

Riggs is an intriguing addition. As a child actor, he carried enormous emotional arcs on The Walking Dead, often serving as the show’s moral compass, even when the writing didn’t always do him favors. Now older, sharper and more self-aware, Riggs seems well-positioned to tackle darker, more complex material. Horror thrives on vulnerability and few actors understand onscreen trauma quite like someone who grew up dodging walkers on basic cable.

For fans of The Walking Dead, The Last Time also scratches that nostalgic itch. It’s not about zombies this time but the thematic DNA of fear, survival and psychological unraveling feels comfortingly familiar. And let’s be honest: genre fans love a comeback story, especially when it involves an actor reclaiming horror on their own terms.

As anticipation builds, The Last Time is shaping up to be one to watch, especially for viewers who like their horror smart, stylish, and slightly unhinged.

Stay tuned to The TV Cave for more updates, first impressions, and the kind of coverage your watchlist deserves.