WARNING: This post contains SPOILERS about "The Walking Dead" TV show and comics. Read on at your own risk.

"The Walking Dead" has officially cast one of the biggest villains from the show's source comics, with Jeffrey Dean Morgan joining the series as Negan.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the character is set to make his debut during the season six finale, setting up a long arc for the f-bomb-loving antagonist. Negan is the leader of a group known as The Saviors, which begins taking over other isolated communities -- including Alexandria -- through the use of brutal force and intimidation.

Negan's arrival had been anticipated for some time by fans of the comics, though recent events on the series have called his iconic introduction into question. In the comics, Negan kills Glenn in a shocking, bloody scene. As viewers know, Glenn's fate is currently up in the air, as he may or may not have been disemboweled by a pack of walkers.

If Glenn's dead, that could anger comics fans, since it would mean Negan's arrival would have less shock value. If he's alive, well, he's not long for this world. (If showrunners intend to follow the comics' lead, that is.)

THR reports that Morgan beat out a bunch of other big names for the part, including Timothy Olyphant, Matt Dillon, and Garret Dillahunt. Production on the season six finale begins this week in Atlanta.

The episode is currently scheduled to air in April 2016.

[via: The Hollywood Reporter]

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