Jeffrey Dean Morgan Reveals Brutal Walking Dead Scene That Drained Him Emotionally

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Summary

  • Jeffrey Dean Morgan found filming The Walking Dead S7E1 particularly exhausting due to the brutal scene of Carl’s arm getting bitten.
  • Despite challenging moments, Morgan appreciated his time on the show and continues portraying Negan in Dead City.
  • Negan’s actions in Season 7 still affect fans today, making his role on the spinoff more intriguing, with hopes of a return in Season 3.

On six seasons of “The Walking Dead,” Jeffrey Dean Morgan portrayed the formidable villain Negan Smith, yet a single scene proved so intense during filming that it posed a challenge for him.

Fans have relished watching Lennie James as the complex character Negan in the thrilling spinoff “The Walking Dead: Dead City.” Here’s hoping the series gets renewed for a third season and the skilled actor can continue portraying the captivating role for a bit longer. Known for playing intriguing characters on television, from the enigmatic John Winchester in Supernatural to the compassionate Denny Duquette on Grey’s Anatomy, James is no stranger to horror films as well, having starred in “The Possession” and the lesser-known slasher “Bloody Axe Wound,” which didn’t garner much attention upon its release in December 2024. Given Negan’s significant impact on his career, James frequently reminisces about wielding Lucille the bat and causing chaos, and he once shared an intriguing behind-the-scenes tale about filming one episode.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan Revealed That Filming The Walking Dead Season 7 Premiere Was Tough

In a conversation with Interview Magazine back in 2016, Jeffrey Dean Morgan expressed that filming The Walking Dead’s seventh season opener, titled “The Day Will Come When You Won’t Be,” proved to be incredibly demanding.

To be truthful, I believe Carl’s actions might have been the tipping point for me. The entire situation was overwhelming, and let’s not forget that I lashed out with Lucille at one point, affecting everyone. It all took a heavy toll on me. Eventually, I reached a point where I no longer wanted to continue… I was emotionally exhausted.

Morgan continued that the cast filmed for 10 days and it was “heavy.” He added:

The ordeal was tough, repeatedly facing that place to carry out such gruesome tasks… Yet, they’re all kind-hearted individuals, and I hold a deep affection for each member of the cast.

Morgan was talking about the disturbing moment in the first episode of The Walking Dead season 7, where Negan forces Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) to cut his son Carl Grimes’s (Chandler Riggs) arm off. This scene is particularly memorable because it’s so violent and unsettling for fans. Morgan explained that Negan frequently harms well-liked characters who are kind, making it a challenging role for the actor. It’s not surprising that filming such an emotionally heavy episode had a significant impact on everyone involved.

Morgan openly admits his gratitude for being on “The Walking Dead” and continues to embody the character. However, he’s also been candid about the challenging times. Initially, he was hesitant about the spinoff, but the intriguing concept won him over, leading him to accept it.

The consequences of Negan’s actions in “The Walking Dead” Season 7 continue to resonate till now, with further violence anticipated, given that Carl survived but Glenn Rhee (Steven Yeun), a beloved character, was killed by Negan. Now, Negan and Glenn’s wife Maggie Greene (Lauren Cohan) share an unusual adventure in “Dead City.” With such a dramatic and heart-wrenching past, fans ponder if Glenn might ever reappear. However, even if he doesn’t, the intrigue surrounding Negan’s character in the spinoff is heightened, as viewers are well aware of his complex and flawed nature.

Apart from potentially reprising his role as Negan in Dead City’s season 3, Morgan will also return as Joe Kessler/Billy Butcher in The Boys’ season 5. This upcoming season is set to conclude the series. Additionally, he previously worked with Jack Quaid in the crime thriller Neighborhood Watch, a film that premiered on April 25th, 2025.

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2025-07-04 22:24