'The Walking Dead': David Morrissey on the Governor

A lot of people were thrown when the suave David Morrissey was cast to play one of the most evil and barbaric characters in comic book culture in the Governor. (Much like the way people were thrown when “that British guy from Love Actually” was cast to play steely sheriff’s deputy Rick Grimes). But after going and seeing Morrissey in character on set, it was clear to me that when season 3 of The Walking Dead picks up on AMC Oct. 14, the Governor we meet will be a different beast from the one we were introduced to in the comic book — at least at first. Morrissey’s Governor is a much more political animal with a messiah complex — one whose evil lurks behind a shiny exterior.

Morrissey took a few minutes out from fondling a big knife for one of our four new Walking Dead Entertainment Weekly covers to offer some insight as to how the TV Governor differs from the comic version. “We probably meet the Governor earlier in his journey,” says Morrissey “I think he has more complexity than in the comic book.” So instead of coming across a complete lunatic, as in the comic, expect to see the seeds of lunacy being planted right before our eyes: “The things that make him the way he is happen to him on screen. We see them happening.”

Check out more fresh intel from Morrissey on the Governor — as well as footage from our photo shoot — in the video player below. And you can buy the Governor EW cover (or all four Walking Dead covers in a special bundle pack) right here.

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