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The Walking Dead: Was Negan’s screen time scaled back in trailer?

By Sarabeth Pollock

SAN DIEGO, CA - JULY 22: Actors Jeffrey Dean Morgan (L) and Andrew Lincoln attend AMC's 'The Walking Dead' panel during Comic-Con International 2016 at San Diego Convention Center on July 22, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for AMC)
SAN DIEGO, CA - JULY 22: Actors Jeffrey Dean Morgan (L) and Andrew Lincoln attend AMC's 'The Walking Dead' panel during Comic-Con International 2016 at San Diego Convention Center on July 22, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for AMC) /
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The extended San Diego Comic Con trailer showed fans what they can expect in season 8, but Negan was much less visible than he was ahead of season 7.

As soon as the trailer for The Walking Dead season 8 debuted at San Diego Comic Con, fans went into speculation mode. What does it all mean? What happens in All Out War? Who lives? Who dies? We know that Rick and the Alexandrians will face Negan and the Saviors (and presumably the Scavengers) in the big battle of season 8, but Negan was noticeably less visible than he was in the season 7 trailer.

The Walking Dead’s seventh season was a polarizing one, with fans split as to the reception. Some hated it while others were thoroughly engrossed in the action. Negan, who is arguably the most villainous of the baddies we’ve seen so far, was equally polarizing. Though Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s over the top portrayal of Negan was generally well received, many fans felt that there was too much focus on Negan and way too much time spent on bottle episodes that took us away from the core group.

There was even an outcry that season 7 was far too violent, which launched rumors that showrunners were toning the show’s violence down in response, an allegation that was later dismissed as false.

It’s interesting to note, then, that Negan is only seen at the beginning of the trailer and in brief snippets, leaving the rest of the five-plus minute trailer to focus on the rest of the cast. Are we seeing less Negan in response to fans who thought we saw too much, or was this done intentionally by producers for other reasons?

I can only imagine how much discussion went into the creation of The Walking Dead season 8 trailer. Producers know how to give fans just enough of the story to get them thinking, while leaving out important clues as to what’s really going on. They’re not going to give away any major secrets in a trailer. (Unless it’s a hiding in plain sight kind of thing, which would be fun, too) There’s no question we’re going to see more of Negan in season 8, so perhaps the screen time doesn’t mean anything.

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Only time will tell.

The Walking Dead returns October 22 on AMC.

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