Lennie James talks Morgan’s crossover to Fear the Walking Dead

Fear the Walking Dead has gained a new cast member. As Morgan leaves for an epic crossover, Lennie James opens up about this change for his character.

Fear the Walking Dead’s fourth season is heading our way soon with many changes in the works. The biggest is that Morgan will cross over from the original show, The Walking Dead.

Morgan has been on TWD since its very first season. He is the man who helped Rick the first day after waking from his coma. Since then, he has become a major character on the show, but his time has come to leave the original survivors and join Fear the Walking Dead.

Comic Book Resources got some very much-needed answers from Lennie James, who plays the tormented, stick-wielding warrior.

When asked what it is like switching over and coming to Texas, James had a lot to say.

"It’s weird. I had a week between the end of seven months in Atlanta, and the beginning of seven months in Austin. It’s a little bit of a blur. This is usually the time when I’m recovering from seven grueling months, and I’m not. It’s a little strange, but I’m kind of enjoying it.  All the reasons I said yes to doing it are here and being manifested- it’s a new group of people. It’s a different aspect of Morgan, and who he’s been, and the potential of what could happen to him — it’s a very weird situation to be associated with a character as long as I’ve been associated with a character, and then have that character reborn, in a way. It’s exciting."

While it is exciting and brand new to him, does James know yet what will be different about Morgan in Fear? He said that it is a bit early to tell, but there will be a definite change.

He tells CBR that Morgan has made “a decision about who he is to people, and who he wants to be to people”.

So far, we have seen Morgan losing it a bit on TWD. Does this reference him coming back from that and being more of a leader for people?

On TWD, much of what Morgan has done has been due to Rick. From helping him that first day to losing his mind waiting for Rick to radio him back, Rick’s impact has pushed Morgan into a bit of a dark place. Well, no, a real dark place.

As Morgan leaves those at Hilltop behind, will there be any new relationships on Fear that resemble that bond? It is too early to tell according to James who says, “It’s a weird one because we’re in the beginning, middle and end of different relationships in the early part of the telling of the story so far.”

Speaking of newer bonds, James mentions that Morgan meets many characters from Fear, but in particular has a connection with Maggie Grace’s character, Althea. It is also mentioned that when it comes to Morgan and John, Garret Dillahunt’s character, there is something in the works. James says, “For the moment of the story we’re telling, their journey joins together”.

The big question is, what can we expect for Morgan’s cross-over? James breaks down the main difference between Fear and TWD — Fear is more nomadic.

“This one is much more sparse,” he explains. “In this part of the apocalypse, people have not banded into groups in the same way, and those groups don’t have a home. They’re much more out on the road.”

So does this mean it will be more like the first season of TWD? Less about rebuilding and more about surviving from walkers? Honestly, this is what many fans of the original series love. We never did see much of Morgan fighting in a group that wasn’t part of something such as Alexandria.

The question we want the answer to is will Morgan ever be able to come back to TWD?

“Everything is possible,” James said. “But in this particular moment in time, I do not know the answer to that question, genuinely.”

While this is very vague it gives us hope.

This writer personally loves Lennie James in everything he plays (anyone seen Jericho?) so I know he will be amazing on Fear. Much like Carl being gone (R.I.P.) leaves a hole in my heart, so does Morgan leaving.

We think it will be interesting to see him switch to Fear from the original series. But we really hope he’ll return at some point, perhaps with some new friends?

Next: The Walking Dead’s Georgie is the Varys the survivors need

You can catch the new season of Fear the Walking Dead on April 15 on AMC.