Emmy-Nominated ‘Westworld’ Star Joins ‘The Walking Dead’ Spinoff as Season 3 Gets Exciting Filming Update

The Walking Dead franchise is welcoming another acclaimed actor to its fold. It’s been confirmed that Westworld alum Jimmi Simpson will join the TWD: Dead City cast as a series regular when the hit zombie drama returns for Season 3. Fans may also recognize him from his iconic guest appearance as James Walton in the “USS Callister” episode of Black Mirror, or more recently, as Quatro in Twisted Metal. Though details of his role remain shrouded in mystery, according to Deadline, he will play a character named Dillard. Also joining Simpson as a new member of the main cast is former Lucifer actress Aimee Garcia. She is set to star as a charismatic leader named Renata.

First premiering in June 2023, Dead City continues the dark and complex journeys of Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Maggie (Lauren Cohan), as they make their way through a post-apocalyptic Manhattan. Despite their complicated history with each other, the pair begrudgingly teamed up in Season 1 after Maggie’s teenage son Hershel (Logan Kim) was kidnapped by a sinister survivor who once idolized Negan. What followed has been a roller-coaster journey that has explored the ever-changing definition of right and wrong in a slowly crumbling world, grief and acceptance.

This has been especially clear through Maggie’s story. Still grieving the brutal murder of her husband, Glenn (Steven Yeun) — who was killed by Negan in one of the most controversial and memorable scenes of The Walking Dead — over the past two seasons, she’s been trapped in a seemingly never-ending game of will-she, won’t-she as she battles between her desire to move on from years of anger and her desperate need for revenge.

Fans Got First Looks at Negan and Maggie on ‘Dead City’ Season 3 Set

Rumors swirled that Dead City could be on the chopping block before its story could come to a proper conclusion due to concerns of low viewership, especially since it held the same time slot as HBO’s The Last of Us. However, on Tuesday, Sept. 23, AMC released a statement officially confirming that the spinoff would be returning for a third season with an all-new showrunner, TWD writer Seth Hoffman, who will be taking over from Eli Jorné.

“I’m excited to have the chance to dive back into ‘The Walking Dead’ Universe and work to deliver another dynamic season’s worth of stories to this epic franchise. It’s a true honor to chart out the next chapter for Maggie and Negan’s iconic adventures in Dead City. Lauren, Jeffrey and Scott [Gimple] are incredible creative partners and I’m thrilled to collaborate with them to bring this story to life.” – Seth Hoffman

That same day, fans flocked to Worcester, Mass., in hopes of catching a glimpse of what’s to come for Negan and Maggie in Season 3. They weren’t disappointed, as Morgan and Cohan were seen in full costume outside of Mechanics Hall. While they play on-screen enemies — or perhaps, now the appropriate term would be “frenemies” — the actors appeared in good spirits, occasionally taking breaks to wave to fans or pose for selfies, per photos shared on social media,

Dead City Season 2 ended on a bombshell cliffhanger as Maggie, Perlie (Gaius Charles) and a severely injured Negan realize they need to bury the hatchet and work together if they expect to survive what’s to come — the New Babylon forces who have begun to flood the streets of Manhattan. According to AMC, Season 3 will put their newfound compromise to the test.

Maggie and Negan finally put aside their differences to build the first thriving community in Manhattan since the apocalypse, but when chaos in the city begins to arise, they are forced to question: have they learned from their old wounds or will their dark past spell doom for the entire city?

AMC has yet to announce an expected premiere date for Season 3 of The Walking Dead: Dead City, but fans can catch the first two seasons streaming on AMC+.