Jeffrey Dean Morgan Reveals Why He Said Yes To The Walking Dead: Dead City

The Walking Dead's post-apocalyptic universe is so rich and compelling that it's no wonder there are a few spinoff series. One of the best ones is, arguably, The Walking Dead: Dead City. Season 2, episode 1, "Power Equals Power" premiered on AMC on Sunday May 4th, 2025, and fans got the chance to catch up with Maggie Rhee (Lauren Cohan), Negan Smith (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), and Negan's favorite thing in the world: his memorable bat.

While Morgan said he might not play Negan much longer, he also shared in a recent interview that he came close to saying no to reprising his infamous role. Countless fans would have been bummed if they didn't get the opportunity to see Negan on their TV screens again.

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Jeffrey Dean Morgan Explained Why He Decided To Star In The Walking Dead: Dead City & It Would Have Been Disappointing If He Didn't

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Jeffrey Dean Morgan said that the time was right for him to say yes to The Walking Dead: Dead City. The actor explained:

Morgan continued that he was impressed by the storytelling of the sequel series, and so he knew it was the right choice. He said:

It would have been too bad if Morgan had decided against The Walking Dead: Dead City. While it's possible that the series could have featured another character teaming up with Maggie, that wouldn't have had the same impact. Negan and Maggie aren't big fans of each other, which makes their scenes unique and interesting.

The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 2 Explores Negan And Maggie's Dynamic

While The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2 teaser showed that Lucille would still be a big part of Negan Smith's arc, the season premiere proved that Negan and Maggie's tricky dynamic will be explored, too. However, the characters will also be on their own, which will be thrilling to watch.

In an interview with TV Line, Jeffrey Dean Morgan explained:

It sounds like The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2 will strike a good balance between allowing Negan and Maggie to go on important personal journeys while also making them wonder if there will ever be a time when they could get along. There's no doubt that their distrust of one another makes for an exciting and dramatic series, and while fans wait for new episodes on Sunday evenings on AMC, they can rewatch season 1 on Netflix.