The Walking Dead Producers Cancel TCA Press Panel Appearance To Attend Stuntman John Bernecker's Funeral

The Walking Dead producers have canceled their upcoming press tour panel at the Television Critics Association to attend the funeral of stuntman John Bernecker, who died in an on-set accident last month.

Showrunner Scott Gimple was expected to attend the bi-annual press event on Saturday alongside executive producers Gale Anne Hurd, Robert Kirkman, Dave Alpert, and Greg Nicotero.

But producers have decided to skip out on the event as it would conflict with the 33-year-old's funeral service, AMC said in a statement on Thursday.

Bernecker was filming a stunt for Season 8 in July which required him to fall over 20 feet off of a balcony onto a safety pad.

According to assistant director Matthew Goodwin, Bernecker failed to get a "good separation" from the balcony and missed the safety cushion, instead landing on his head and neck on the concrete.

Bernecker was airlifted to an Atlanta medical center and was placed on a ventilator, which his family opted to turn off the next day.

AMC shut down production on Season 8 for a week following Bernecker's death. The hit series returns on October 22.