The Walking Dead: Negan! Negan! Read all about him!
By Susie Graham
The cast and producers of AMC’s The Walking Dead have had a lot to say over these last weeks about the season 6 finale. Let’s look at what they think about the introduction of Negan.
Michael Cudlitz comes alive when he talks about Jeffrey Dean Morgan joining the show as Negan in this interview.
"“I think there’s a charm that Jeffrey has that he brings to most things. And I think he’s able to sort of carry that with him. And I think he’s going to infuse a lot of that into Negan. You’re going to love Negan. You’re going to love to hate Negan. And I think that’s what the show needs is, you know, someone you love, that is bad, that is just as beloved as the characters that he’s trying to kill.”"
Lennie James told Digital Spy how he felt about the casting of Jeffrey Dean Morgan and the introduction of Negan:
"“I think he is fantastic casting for the role and the work he has done on the show so far is proof of that, and it’s off the chart. It is such a dazzling introduction that it’s going to blow people off their seats. [Season six] is going to go places that even if you read the comics you’ve got no f**king idea what’s going to happen!”"
Norman Reedus put in his two cents with CinemaBlend:
"“There’s going to be a fight. I won’t tell you who, when and where, but I can promise you a fight. All of us are about to clash with that motherf**ker. There’s a lot of turmoil in the second half of Season 6.”"
Bone-chilling is the only word Robert Kirkman has used.
Andrew Lincoln and Lauren Cohan talked to Entertainment Weekly about their physical reactions after reading the script.
"“I felt sick to my stomach when I read the script. It was the first day in the whole six years of working on The Walking Dead that I was late for work because I woke up in the middle of the night and I couldn’t get back to sleep. I was so angry and frustrated and I felt sick. And that was just after reading it.” ~Andrew Lincoln“[Hearing] the word ‘finale’ gives me a physical reaction because it’s the hardest day on set that I’ve ever had in my life,” says Lauren Cohan (Maggie) with a sigh. “I never even imagined that as an actor you could have that experience. It’s one of the most raw experiences that I think any of us have ever had. Andy talks about being late to work; I didn’t want to go to work that day. It took a really, really long time for everybody to feel okay again after the finale, let’s put it that way.”~Lauren Cohan"
Melissa McBride just couldn’t speak. “It was so very dark. I couldn’t say anything after I had finished reading it. I felt like I had dropped into a blackhole.” (Via Comicbook.com)
Scott Gimple elaborated more on the funny, charismatic side that comic fans must love and Michael Cudlitz was excited that Negan and Jeffrey Dean Morgan will bring to the show. (Via Entertainment Weekly)
"“He does some horrible things, but ourpeople do some horrible things. He is, though, this unrepentant a-hole. He is somebody who is the ultimate bully. The worst kind of bullies in high school, and junior high, and elementary school, and kindergarten, pre-school, and the womb were the bullies that were funny. That was the worst because the bullies that were funny were show people. I’m not going to say show men because there are a lot of girl bullies in school, too. They were funny and yet they were awful. That’s such a combination. And Negan is the ultimate version of that bully. And he is an incredible strategist. He can often appear capricious. He is pure id. He is this force of nature. He’s charismatic. A lot of villains on shows and comics and everything, it’s like, “Oh they’re the villain that you love to hate.” I think Negan is the villain that you hate to love. But you just love him. And he does some horrible things, but he has a reason for them. He’s going to terrify you but he’s really going to make you laugh. A lot of the times you’re going to be ashamed that you’re laughing.”"
Gale Anne Hurd goes as far as to say she thinks fans will stand up and cheer. (Via Us Magazine)
"“He’s a completely different kind of character than we’ve had in the past, and honestly, I cannot imagine someone more perfect than Jeffrey Dean Morgan to bring him to life. [Negan is] formidable, but he’s incredibly charismatic, and he acknowledges who he is and what he expects of people….anyone who loves Negan from the comic books will literally be cheering. They won’t be able to sit down at home or wherever they are. I think they’ll stand up and cheer.”"
We’ve been hearing about this Negan cat now for quite some time. Comic readers have been waiting for him since before Alexandria. I don’t know what to expect, but I’m thrilled and terrified at this next step in The Walking Dead.
I know it’s a tired cliché, but I do feel like we’re at the top of the first hill of the Negan roller coaster ride and we’re about to free fall into some killer loop de loops. I must say that my skin literally tingles writing this and when I see the back of his body and hear that low voice in the previews. And I do know what literally means. My arms tingle!
Hi. I’m Negan.