Who Is ‘The Essex Serpent’ Star Frank Dillane? Get to Know the Actor Who Unexpectedly Left ‘Fear the Walking Dead’

“The Essex Serpent” will premiere on May 13, 2022, with Claire Danes and Tom Hiddleston as main stars, but “Fear the Walking Dead” actor Frank Dillane also has a crucial role.

Born in April 1991, Frank Dillane has been active in the entertainment industry since he was a kid. His film debut came in 1997’s “Welcome to Sarajevo,” but he took a 12-year break from his acting career.

In 2009, he landed a small part in “Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince,” and he has been focused on mastering his craft since then. In 2015, Dillane shot to stardom after landing the part of Nick Clark in “Fear the Walking Dead.”

Frank Dillane on March 9, 2022 in London, England | Source: Getty Images

Fans of “The Walking Dead” spin-off were shocked to learn that Dillane would leave the show in 2018 after four seasons, mainly because he was one of the original cast members. 

Although his entire time on the post-apocalyptic TV series was great, Dillane admitted to being particularly proud of the first season. Apart from loving the character he and showrunners Andrew Chambliss and Ian Goldberg created, it was his first time playing a leading role.

Frank Dillane on April 24, 2022 in London, England | Source: Getty Images

It is essential to point out that killing off Nick was not Chambliss and Goldberg’s original plan. Dillane asked them to do it for a few reasons, including that working on television is very hard for an actor because it is a lot of work. He added: 

“I was very close to Nick. I played him for a very long time. But it felt like it was time to move on and try different things, and play new characters.”

As a British, Frank Dillane also got homesick and would frequently miss Europe. So, when he knew that Lennie James’ character from “The Walking Dead” would be included in the spin-off, he felt it was the right time to leave.

After leaving the show, Dillane was unsure if he wanted to work on TV again. Fortunately, he made up his mind quickly and joined the cast of “The Essex Serpent” in April 2021.

Adapted from Sarah Perry’s eponymous novel, the Apple TV+ series stars “Homeland” actress Claire Danes as Cora Seaborne and “Loki” actor Tom Hiddleston as Will Ransome. Dillane will play Luke Garrett, a young surgeon loved by some and hated by others. 

Before Danes, “Pirates of the Caribbean” actress Keira Knightley was to portray Cora, but she dropped out of the project due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Cora is a widowed freshly out of an abusive marriage. She moves from Victorian London to Aldwinter, a small village in Essex, to investigate the alleged return of a mythical creature known as the Essex Serpent.

She develops an unexpected bond with Will, the village’s vicar. Things get complicated when locals accuse Cora of attracting the Serpent after a tragedy strikes Aldwinter.

“Ali & Ava” director Clio Barnard directed the six-episode series, which will premiere on May 13, 2022. We cannot wait to see Frank Dillane in “The Essex Serpent.”

Anomama