'The Walking Dead' season 6 spoilers, cast news & recap: Jeffrey Dean Morgan tapped to play villain 'Negan'
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Things are fast-paced in the world of AMC's The Walking Dead, as The Hollywood Reporter reveals Jeffrey Dean Morgan is set to join the show come the end of season 6. Glenn has apparently died, Maggie is pregnant, and Aaron is slowly gaining the pack's trust. There are a lot of new developments to process, and fans should anticipate even more excitement towards the finale when Morgan is set to appear as the villain Negan.
THR reports that in the comics, fans may know Negan as the violent head honcho of the group called Saviors, who utilize force and intimidation to dominate other communities. Comicbook reports that Negan is a "ruthless leader...who likes killing and cursing—a lot". His weapon of choice? A baseball bat laden with barbed wire that he affectionately calls Lucille. Negan was introduced in the comics' 100th issue, where he and his minions took Rick, Heath, Carl, Maggie, Glenn, Sophia and Michonne outside and forced them to their knees.
Negan was also responsible for Glenn's death in the comics. In the series, however, fans and even the stars of the show are still speculating whether or not Glenn is still alive, and if Glenn resurfaces when Negan makes an entrance.
According to showrunner Scott M. Gimple, "That's one of those questions that, any way that I answer, could spoil five different parts of the story. But I hope to show you. We will be showing it. You will be learning the answer to that question as you watch. If I were to answer it now, I would wind up revealing all sorts of stuff from different directions. The lame way of saying it is: You'll have to see."
Morgan will be cast as a guest star during the current season and will be promoted to a series regular come season 7, which renewal was recently confirmed by the network.
Ross Marquand, who plays Aaron on the series, spoke to Us Weekly about the season 6 finale, which they are shooting this week. The actor said, "It’s maybe the darkest bit of writing I’ve ever read. It genuinely is one of the craziest, most gut-wrenching episodes I’ve ever read in my life."
Whether of not Marquad is implying that Morgan's Negan will make a dramatic entrance is something fans will have to wait for.
CBC News reports that Morgan's previous television work include his role as private investigator Jason Crouse on The Good Wife, Extant (which was unfortunately cancelled after two seasons), Grey's Anatomy, and Supernatural, where he played Sam and Dean's father. He is also set to appear as Thomas Wayne in the upcoming Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice film come 2016.
The Walking Dead airs on Sundays at 9/8c on AMC.