The Walking Dead cast describes phenomenon known as Negan

Negan is bigger than life and the cast of The Walking Dead have a lot to say about how and why he will change things when we return for season 7.

It’s almost time for us to really figure out who this Negan guy is on The Walking Dead. We heard his name mentioned for the first time in the middle of season 5 when the herd was in Alexandria and Abraham, Sasha and Daryl were headed back to help and were stopped by Bud and the bikers.

Then we learned a little bit more about him from Jesus and the Hilltop community and Paula, Primo and Molly. Negan seemed mythical and mysterious and mean. But not until the end of season 6 did we begin to comprehend the magnitude of everything Negan.

AMC asked the cast and producers of The Walking Dead what fans should expect from Negan and why we will love to hate him. Their answers included some common threads.

Charm and Charisma

Negan is supposed to have a certain charm and charisma that makes him a fan favorite in the comics and a fasincating and compelling character.

"Andrew Lincoln (Rick): “The Governor was much more about secrets. You didn’t know what the Governor was doing. Negan is very clear. He is very open with the people he meets. There is a charm, but there is a terrifying logic as well.”Robert Kirkman (Executive Producer): “The character of Negan, especially how Jeffrey Dean Morgan portrays him, is so warm and engaging, while threatening and terrifying. You don’t want him to kill you, but you are engaged in the entire scenario and you don’t want him to stop talking. Because of that, his character is going to be very well-loved despite what he does.”Greg Nicotero (Executive Producer, Director, Special Effects Makeup Supervisor): “Negan is charismatic and you find yourself holding on every sick word that he is saying. You can’t take your eyes off of him. You can’t not listen to what he is saying because he is magnetic. The fact that he does these absolutely reprehensible things while he is spouting this excruciating, colorful, completely out-of-left-field dialogue – the character is captivating.”"

Numbers and Pervasiveness

Negan is everywhere. We saw this in the season finale. The roadblocks showed up at every turn. The numbers kept growing and growing. And we heard people at his compound saying they were Negan as if to create his presence in all places even where he cannot be.

"Ross Marquand (Aaron): “Negan has been a pervasive threat for most of last season. Even before he was revealed, there is this notion that he is everywhere. He is this ubiquitous force of negativity and darkness that is very terrifying. Just when they think they have the upper hand, they realize that they have only touched the tip of the iceberg. There is so much beneath what they think they know.”Michael Cudlitz (Abraham): “It’s a dangerous world, and it appears it is run by one guy that we knew nothing about. We have no idea of the size, scope, command, and the tentacles that this group has. There are no answers, and we are not in a position to get them, because, in this moment, we don’t matter.”"

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So we should expect to be captivated by this man who is everywhere and has a hold on a large number of people and has a ton of control and reach. Someone who is mean and evil yet somehow makes sense and you want to listen to him even though you are afraid of him.

He sounds a bit like Hannibal Lector as far as being fascinating to listen to but he’s evil and you know that, but you get sucked into his speeches. But he also sounds a little more taken with himself. More of a showman.

Austin Amelio brought up an interesting point as far as Negan’s followers are concerned:

"“Negan is this weird dichotomy of someone that you hate and he protects you at the same time.”"

Next: A quick recap of Season 6 for your binge watching

I would imagine many of Negan’s numbers are people afraid of the world they live in now and think that Negan is the only way they have to survive.

For the entire list of comments from the cast and producers, check the AMC website. Negan will be on our television screens in less than a month. We will see if they are correct that we will love to hate Negan or if we will just hate him.