Actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan considered leaving the spin-off series The Walking Dead: Dead City following creative differences over the evolution of his character, Negan.
The actor reached out to television network AMC to express his willingness to walk away from the show during its second season, before deciding to stay when the studio hired a new writer who addressed his concerns.
Morgan joined The Walking Dead franchise as one of the main villains in the flagship series, becoming one of its most recognizable figures after his key arrival in the seventh season. He later moved on to headline the spin-off series, which follows his character years after the events of the original show.
Creative differences over Negan
According to Morgan, Negan lost his spark during the second season when the creative team made him more serious and less charismatic than he was when he first joined the franchise. He explained that the second season took the character down a path that stripped away many of the traits that had made him memorable.
Morgan felt that Negan spent numerous episodes appearing overly emotional and overwhelmed, while the imposing presence that had long defined him went largely unnoticed. He had hoped the spin-off would retain the qualities that made Negan compelling enough to lead his own series.
Changes to character relationships
His frustration prompted him to contact AMC to state that he was prepared to leave the production. He agreed to stay after the studio brought in a new writer who took his advice into consideration, including his belief that the relationship between Negan and Maggie needed to evolve.
The dynamic between the two characters had been explored extensively in the main series, leading Morgan to feel it required a deeper direction in the spin-off. Set several years after the original show, The Walking Dead: Dead City follows Negan and Maggie as they navigate New York in search of her kidnapped son, an uneasy partnership given that Negan brutally murdered her husband, Glenn.
The third season of The Walking Dead: Dead City is currently airing.
