Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who plays Negan across The Walking Dead franchise, has revealed he considered leaving the role after filming the second season of spin-off Dead City, saying his character had lost the "humour and charisma" that defined him. The comments suggest tension behind the scenes over how Negan's portrayal evolved in the newer series, a notable admission given how central the character has become to the franchise since its original run.

Morgan did not elaborate in the available material on the specific creative decisions that led to this shift, but his remarks point to dissatisfaction with the tone or writing direction taken with Negan in Dead City's second season. The article does not provide further detail on whether he has since resolved these concerns or what changes, if any, were made to keep him involved in the show.