If you think you saw comic book villain Negan in the Season 5 premiere of "The Walking Dead," then you're wrong.
There were a lot of surprise appearances in the episode, including the return of Robin Lord Taylor's Sam from Season 4 and Lennie James' Morgan Jones, who is the first zombie outbreak survivor that Rick (Andrew Lincoln) met following his exit from the hospital back in Season 1.
However, the biggest topic of discussion among the show's fans was the appearance of a man that looks like Negan. See the photo here.
The mystery character, which has a slicked-back black hair just like Negan in the comics, appeared at the very end of the episode during a flashback scene, hinting at how Gareth (Andrew J. West) and his family was transformed from innocent, well intentioned people into cannibals.
Some fans of the show, especially those who follow the comics, took to social media and speculated that the character might be actually Negan.
However, comic book creator and executive producer Robert Kirkman was quick to end the debate, tweeting: "That was NOT Negan at the end of the episode. Note the face tattoos."
On the "Talking Dead," executive producer and special effects makeup whiz Greg Nicotero offered some further details about the mystery man. "He's the guy that they let out of the train car when Glenn (Steven Yeun) says, 'That's still who we are. We have to still let those people out.' That's the same guy that we see in the flashback at the end. And so he's part of the group that followed the signs to Terminus and took it over," explained Nicotero according to Comicbook.com.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Kirkman revealed that Negan's possible introduction to the show is something that they have not discussed yet. But if the character would indeed join the show some time in the future, he said that his storyline would be a significant one.
"While Negan's introduction isn't something that we have planned, that moment would be something that we would build up to in possibly... substantial way," the 35-year-old comic book writer said. "It wouldn't just be an aside or a wink and nudge. That would be a pretty monumental event that would be possibly be something we would shape an entire season around. So, I wouldn't expect that to just be kind of slipped in casually."
In an interview with AMC last month, executive producer David Alpert said that Negan is much more evil than The Governor (David Morrissey).
"He is just like the coolest f-ing character on the planet," Alpert said. "You thought the Governor was bad news? Man, wait until you meet Negan! He's one of the greatest villains ever created."
