Actor Matthew Lillard has recently made a surprising revelation that has caught the attention of ‘The Walking Dead‘ fans.
During a recent podcast appearance, the actor explained how close he came to joining the popular post-apocalyptic series when he was briefly cast as the villain Negan before the role went to Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
Matthew Lillard Had the Role of Negan for Just 10 Minutes
Lillard, known for playing Stu Macher in the ‘Scream‘ films and for his role as Shaggy in Scooby-Doo, said he auditioned for Negan and was called back three times for the AMC show. For a short moment, he believed he had landed the role, but that excitement lasted only for 10 minutes.
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It wasn’t until years later at San Diego Comic-Con that Lillard learned the truth. While at the event, he met someone connected to the show’s creators, who pulled him aside and told him, “You have no idea. You had the part for like 10 minutes.”
How Matthew Lillard Lost the Negan Role
The situation changed very quickly. The producers had reportedly decided to move ahead with Lillard when they got a call from Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s agents. Morgan, who had earlier been unsure or unavailable, suddenly agreed to take the role. And just like that, the opportunity was gone.
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Now, looking back after all these years, Lillard admitted the role could have changed a lot for him. “At that point, I would’ve had another 10 years of work,” he said on The Big Thing Podcast while pointing out how big and long-running the show turned out to be.
What Matthew Lillard’s Negan Would Have Been Like
Lillard said his version of Negan would have been quite different. “He’s super masculine, and I just would’ve been more wicked and funny,” he explained.
He compared his idea to Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s tougher and more serious style, saying that his own take would have leaned more into dark humor, shaped by his background in horror-comedy. “We would have had very different takes,” Lillard added.
The story highlights how unpredictable casting in Hollywood can be, where a single call or last-minute decision can change everything for an actor.
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