Before taking a bow in the finale, Bruegel livened up much of The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2 with his antics. Not only did he offer better insight into the conflicting factions of New Manhattan, but he also forced the demons inside Negan to come out in full form. Much of the character's spice was, of course, thanks to Coates' experience playing larger-than-life roles in cult classic shows such as Sons of Anarchy.
ScreenRant interviewed Coates about his time in The Walking Dead universe, how early on he knew Bruegel would only last a season, and how that inevitable conclusion shaped his performance. Never fear, however, there is always a chance he will find his way back in one form or another...
Bruegel Almost Made It To Another Season Of Dead City – But His Death Was Necessary
“It Really Is A Nice Ribbon Of Violence And Retribution In The End”
ScreenRant: I know Eli Jorné wrote the role of Bruegel for you. Did you know it was a one-season gig from the start? Was that part of the appeal, or was it bittersweet?
Kim Coates: Wow, great question. I didn't think about being on this show for one year or 5 years — I just knew that I was being thought about. I knew Jeffrey [Dean Morgan] really well, and I couldn't wait to work with him, so when Eli reached out and sent me the first and fourth episodes to read? I knew I had to play this guy.
Then you get into negotiations, and it's like," Is it one season? Is it this, that, and the other?" They were fairly adamant that Bruegel was going to be the spice of the second season, but for just one season. And I was so okay with that. You know my work; I love limited series. I love a massive movie over six or seven episodes, and then it's over.
But I've got to tell you, just between you and me and our beautiful peeps out there, they were really wondering if they made the right call in getting rid of Bruegel once the dailies were coming in. This is not my first rodeo! I had so much fun, and they could tell I was so different as a villain on the show. I loved the crew, the directors, the special effects guys, the hair and makeup, and the wardrobe department — all of it.
Eli came up to me after the fifth episode or sixth episode, and he goes, "Jesus, we're having a thought." And I went, "Don't hurt yourself over the thought." I mean, the ending's pretty spectacular for Bruegel! And in a way, he's got to go. I mean, he doesn't "got to" go. You never know what can happen in the future. Is there a twin out there, or is there something weird? You never fricking know.
But I'm telling you, it really is a nice ribbon of violence and retribution in the end, the way they did it. Because the whole season's about methane, so it's a beautiful death for Bruegel to have. All I talked about was methane, so guess what, buddy? Here you go. Here's some methane for you.
Breaking Down Bruegel’s Backstory Before The Walking Dead
“He Wants New York Back The Way It Was”
ScreenRant: We hear a lot about what Bruegel's plans are, but what do you think would've happened had he succeeded?
Kim Coates: I thought about that. I really believe Bruegel already won in his mind, and he doesn't even give up at the end. He's still begging, "Don't do this! It's you and me together, Negan, we can run this city and more." I think he really believed that.
Had it not gone the way it went, or had there been a flood in that prison and we all got out, it would've been Bruegel against Negan against the Croat and the Dama. She's amazing. I mean, they're all incredible, the Croat. These guys can fricking act. But I think it would've been me back in my corner; plotting in my bunker with my gang and rethinking everything. He would've survived, and he would've continued to be the most powerful man in New York.
ScreenRant: In a show very concerned with the old world vs. the new, Bruegel clearly stands on the old side of things. We know you were a CEO in the Old World, one who even met Warren Buffett, but how did he translate that into amassing the following he has now in the New one?
Kim Coates: He's a reader. Where have the readers gone in America today, right? He's smart. He knows fashion. He knows art. He knows all about Washington crossing the Delaware. I mean, I got to live in the Met! A little bit before we started filming, I got to soak it all up.
He survived because he's smart, he's conniving, and he has followers like the Pied Piper. They want to survive, and so they're going to follow this guy into the abyss. I really think Bruegel knew the past, and he wants New York back the way it was. He wants Radio City Music Hall; the whole thing. He misses it like crazy.
Kim Coates Bids A Bittersweet Farewell To The Walking Dead: Dead City… For Now
“I’d Come Back In A Heartbeat”
ScreenRant: I feel like, across the board, the critics and fans agree that you’ve been eating up every scene and dialing it up to eleven. Was there any moment from this season where you felt like you really added something to Bruegel that wasn’t there before?
Kim Coates: I don't think that way, really. As an actor, I like to debate with directors if need be. I like to work with other actors, for sure. The better the actor is across from me, the better I'm going to be. So, I didn't think about anything other than being Bruegel and not making him a caricature or making him phony.
I just truly wasn't afraid to fail. I learned all those lines, and then I made more up — and they just couldn't get enough of me making them up. I knew Bruegel was a different villain for this show, and I was proud of that. I just had a blast. When you can have a blast doing something you love and work with people you want to work with, and have it turn out really well? I think that says something.
ScreenRant: Your death scene is one for The Walking Dead books. Can you walk me through that sequence, both in terms of the practical effects and working on that climactic beat with Jeffrey Dean Morgan?
Kim Coates: It was sad. Jeffrey didn't want to hit me with that bat. Jeffrey didn't want the methane to go in Kim Coates. He wanted it to go in Bruegel, but not Kim Coates. It was a real farewell for those two. We've been around so much, he and I, and we're such fans of one another. We hung out. It's always sad when you've had such a great time as artists back and forth for four months on a show that has such longevity, like The Walking Dead.
But again, when they did that special makeup for me, with the methane and the balls and the air that was coming in my face, it looked graphically horrible. So, Jeffrey had no problem getting into character when that was actually going on. But when it was all over, it was just like, "Ah, I'm going to miss you, buddy!"
ScreenRant: You’ve already mentioned some possibilities for a return, be it a clone or a twin. But on the flip side, The Walking Dead universe is no stranger to spinoffs. Any interest in having Bruegel pop up in a prequel or flashback?
Kim Coates: I would work for AMC again in a heartbeat. When a set is run well, when they spend the time and the money to make it as amazing as it turns out to be, I’m thrilled. From the people to the actors to the writing of The Walking Dead universe, I have nothing but love and respect. I'd come back in a heartbeat!
