At the Canneseries debut of The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 2, Jeffrey Dean Morgan celebrated a major career moment—not only unveiling the show’s next chapter but also leaving his handprints on the Cannes Walk of Fame. With his wife, actress Hilarie Burton, and their children present, Morgan described the honor as “incredible,” especially since it was a first Cannes experience for his daughter.
“My daughter had never walked a red carpet before, but she completely owned it,” Morgan said with pride. “Both kids looked like future stars—my son could’ve landed a studio deal on the spot!”
Dead City—the first direct spin-off from the original Walking Dead series—is entering its second season. The show follows Negan and Maggie, once bitter enemies, now caught in a fragile alliance as they navigate a post-apocalyptic New York cut off from the mainland. Season 2 intensifies the conflict, positioning them on opposite sides of a looming war over the city’s future.
Looking back, Morgan is amazed at his character’s longevity. “It’s wild—it’s been ten years,” he said. “I expected maybe four, but the writers kept giving me reasons to stay.”
His first appearance as Negan, in the unforgettable Season 6 cliffhanger, made an instant impact. Today, he’s not just a star but also an executive producer of Dead City, helping steer its creative direction and guiding new cast members like Dascha Polanco and Gaius Charles.
“I don’t think of myself as the boss,” he said, “but after ten years, I’ve earned a few stripes. This job is no joke—physically and emotionally demanding.”
For Morgan, building a tight-knit cast and crew is a highlight. “We shoot for half the year, long days. You want good people around. No egos, no drama. That’s always been a strong point for The Walking Dead—we stay close even after characters are gone.”
Beyond the undead threat, the show dives into issues that hit close to home—like dwindling resources, power struggles, and human division. “Zombies are just the backdrop,” he explained. “It’s really about what people do under pressure—and how often we fail to come together.”
He recalled a conversation with Walking Dead chief Scott M. Gimple, who noted that in the original comics, the walkers moved slowly because they were meant to be overcome—if people could just cooperate. “But they don’t,” Morgan said. “That’s the heart of it.”
This season also revives a powerful piece of Negan’s past: his infamous bat, Lucille. “I found out a year ago she was coming back. I was thrilled,” Morgan said. “I’ve never been one for props, but Lucille? She’s special. She changed how I view the whole idea of a prop.”
Lucille’s return, though, brings emotional weight. “When Negan burned her in Here’s Negan, it was him trying to let go. Now she’s back—and it messes with him,” he said.
Now producing the show alongside Lauren Cohan, Morgan sees Lucille as more than a weapon. “To Negan, she’s a symbol of his past. To me, Jeff? She’s sacred. She’s always with me on set. And no—no one else gets to touch her,” he laughed.
The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 2 premieres May 4, 2025, exclusively on AMC and AMC+. Eli Jorné returns as showrunner, alongside executive producers Scott M. Gimple, Cohan, Morgan, and Brian Bockrath.
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