*AMC’s “The Walking Dead” will lose one of its fan favorites this season.
Lennie James, who has played Morgan Jones since episode 1, season 1, will leave the mothership to join its spinoff series “Fear the Walking Dead,” where he’ll continue playing the same character.
The announcement was made Sunday when James was a surprise guest on aftershow, “Talking Dead.”
“Morgan’s arc in ‘The Walking Dead’ season eight positioned him for the story on ‘Fear the Walking Dead,’” showrunner Scott M. Gimple said via a statement read by “Talking Dead” host Chris Hardwick. “It was also important to see ‘Fear’s’ world and characters through new, yet familiar eyes.”
James said he begins filming ‘Fear’ today (Nov. 27), with his scenes to be streamed live via the show’s social media accounts. The actor, who was the first person Rick (Andrew Lincoln) encountered after waking up from his coma in the show’s pilot, wrapped production on the Atlanta-set “Walking Dead” days ago and appeared on “Talking Dead” via satellite from Austin, Texas, where the show is moving its production.
“From the very first moment the whole suggestion of Morgan going over to ‘Fear the Walking Dead,’ the hardest part of that, from beginning to now, has been leaving ‘The Walking Dead,’” James said. “Leaving that cast, leaving that crew. I’ve said my goodbyes to the cast and I’ve said my goodbyes to the crew… That show stands or falls on the back of that crew. And I’m going to miss them very much.”
We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!
