Sometimes you write yourself into a corner and the only way to get out is to smash the walls. The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman did just that by introducing Negan in his comic book world.
Kirkman recently explained to Entertainment Weekly why he needed to introduced Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s character into The Walking Dead universe. The writer admitted he needed someone like Negan to re-energize his passion and excitement for the series after coming up with 100 issues.
“I don’t know how I could be more glowing,” Kirkman told EW . “Negan was a breath of fresh air for comic book fans when he was introduced and really is something that energized me. You know I love writing that character, and seeing him come to life and seeing him handled so well — it’s downright touching. Like it’s actually really moving to see scenes of Jeffrey Dean Morgan playing this character so well, and he’s having a tremendous amount of fun with it obviously. The controversy over the cliffhanger really bugs me because that was actually overshadowing how awesome the character is that’s just been introduced.”
Kirkman added Negan won’t be in every episode during The Walking Dead Season 7, but Morgan is a series regular. And Negan isn’t going anywhere, so long as Kirkman has use for the character. Kirkman recently admitted during a New York Comic Con 2016 panel focused on the comics he doesn’t have an endgame planned for the bad guy.
"When I run out of ideas for Negan, I'll just kill him,” Kirkman told to NYCC panel crowd. “Negan was supposed to die at the end of the Something to Fear arc. He was originally supposed to be in the book for only four or five issues… It was supposed to end when Maggie takes over the Hilltop. Rick was going to deliver Negan's head in a box to Maggie to say, 'I'm sorry.'"
We’re excited to see Morgan put his own spin on Negan. He did a fantastic job portraying the character in The Walking Dead Season 6 finale. It’s like he’s become one with Lucille. We’re hyped for The Walking Dead Season 7 premiere! What are you looking forward to this season? Let us know in the comments below.
