The Walking Dead: Jesus speaks

Jesus will enter the scene on The Walking Dead within the next few episodes of season 6 and Tomas Payne gave his first interview about his new role.

Entertainment Weekly scored the first interview with the man who will be Jesus soon in The Walking Dead. Tom talked about the audition, his history with Andy Lincoln, the character, the cast, fitness, and the Georgia heat.

The audition process sounds much like what we’ve heard from many of the actors. He had no idea which character he was auditioning for due to the fake name and description he was given. He submitted a tape on a Wednesday, got a call on a Friday and was in Atlanta on Monday! “A total whirlwind.” says Payne.

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He had only seen the pilot of The Walking Dead, but shared a connection with Andy Lincoln in the form of previous work and a common American accent voice coach. It’s not completely clear from the interview if Tom has caught up with the show since then, but he has definitely caught up with the comics.

"What I like about him is his control. He is physically and mentally capable, but is careful not to reveal his strengths too quickly.“It was actually a little tough to start with as I wasn’t sure what approach to the character would work best. I stuck to what I had in the script and discussions I had with [showrunner] Scott Gimple. It was a short period of time to prepare and a lot of information so I had to prioritize. Now I’m totally up to date with the comic books and can’t wait for the new copy each month!”"

I enjoyed his description of Jesus. I like the similarities I see between Jesus and Michonne. I’m fascinated with characters who are a little taciturn and can size people up. I like the idea of holding your cards close to the vest and surprising people with your intelligence and talents.

Paul Monroe aka Jesus, The Walking Dead – Image and Skybound Comics /

"“What I like about him is his control. He is physically and mentally capable, but is careful not to reveal his strengths too quickly. He has the measure of people pretty quickly upon meeting them and is always thinking about the best way to handle any situation he finds himself in. I’m very much looking forward to exploring the character further with the audience. It’s an exciting road ahead.”"

Tom seems okay with the physical part of the role and using his old gymnastic skills. “I was very excited to get fit again! I was a gymnast when I was younger but sadly didn’t really keep it up with age…The training is hard, but I’m loving every minute.”

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The Georgia heat was a surprise, but he had an interesting observation about how it contributes to creating the family out of the cast.

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"“I was lucky to arrive later on in the filming period nearer the end of the summer, but even then it was hot and humid. The show is very physical and it doesn’t take much to build up a sweat. My character isn’t exactly dressed for the heat so I needed to make sure I was drinking a lot of water and resting in the shade when we weren’t filming. The Georgia weather is a big part of the show, I think. The conditions are something that everyone works through and I think it helps bind everyone together. It’s without a doubt the most welcoming cast and crew I’ve worked with and there’s a great sense of camaraderie.”"

I can’t wait to meet Jesus. The midseason premiere is getting closer! February 14, 2016 on AMC. We miss you, too, Chris Hardwick! Talking Dead immediately follows.

(Via Entertainment Weekly)

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