The Surprising Actor Who Almost Played Negan In The Walking Dead

In the "Walking Dead" comic line by Robert Kirkman, Negan is one of Rick's biggest adversaries and one of the most recognizable names to come from the property. Therefore, when the time came to finally bring him to the small screen, it was of the utmost importance that the perfect person took on the character. In hindsight, Jeffrey Dean Morgan was a pretty spot-on choice, but had he not signed the dotted line to join the "TWD" family, the part could've gone to Matthew Lillard of "Scream" and "Scooby-Doo" fame.

This bit of shocking news came from Lillard himself at the 2019 Walker Stalker Con (via Horror Geek Life), where he explained the process of his near-casting. "I went in to audition, and they loved it. They were like 'Wow, they really loved it, you're in the running for this part,'" he revealed, recalling that this paved the way for a second audition where he once again impressed. However, there was another person in mind — presumably Morgan — for the Negan job, and if he took it, Lillard was out. "It comes down to me and this guy, and I get the call that I don't get the part."

Both Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Matthew Lillard are both skilled actors with the filmographies to prove it. Morgan has made for an excellent Negan, and it stands to reason that Lillard would have as well. Sadly though, it just wasn't in the cards.