The Walking Dead: How Will Rick Convince King Ezekiel To Fight Negan?

Spoilers for The Walking Dead Season 7 Episode 9 follow.

Rick Grimes has officially launched his campaign to take on Negan and the Saviors but it’s not exactly going as planned. Although a few folks from the Hilltop community have volunteered to join the fight, its leader Gregory refuses to participate. The same response came from the Kingdom’s King Ezekiel despite a moving speech from Rick.

Now, The Walking Dead fans are left wondering how Rick will get King Ezekiel to align himself and his community with Alexandria for a war with the Saviors.

“I don’t know if Rick can do anything,” Ezekiel actor Khary Payton told Comicbook.com. “I think this has more to do with the relationship between the Saviors and the Kingdom changing. So far, he’s heard things that the Saviors have done, but they haven’t done it to him. They haven’t done it to his people, and the other things that have happened I guess is kind of hearsay. At this point, it’s like to make that kind of commitment, you’re asking him to put the lives of his people on the line, and he’s done that before and he’s regretted it. He’s trying to be a cautious king and think of his people first, but I don’t know if it’s about Rick convincing him. It’s more about him seeing just what the Saviors maybe can be, and seeing that he doesn’t have another choice. War should be a last resort.”

Some of those things which Ezekiel hasn’t seen may soon present themselves to the leader of the Kingdom. As it goes in The Walking Dead comics, Ezekiel is reluctant to join the war despite Rick’s efforts and his soldier Richard insistent upon taking out Negan. The tipping point, however, is likely going to be an inside man should the show follow its source material.

“Haven’t met many people with burnt faces,” Payton said. “That could do it.”

If Dwight is to betray Negan and approach the level headed King Ezekiel, the only powerful community leader who would not kill him (Rick) nor not report him to Negan (Gregory), the King might be persuaded that Rick is correct in his wishes to fight the Saviors. More importantly, he will see the value of having an insider man at the Sanctuary who can give Rick, Ezekiel, and others and upper hand.

Whether or not The Walking Dead TV series will continue to follow the foundation laid out by the comic books is to be seen.

MORE WALKING DEAD:

Watch Chandler Riggs DJ The Silent Disco / Michael Cudlitz Reveals How He Learned Negan Would Kill Abraham / Katelyn Nacon Reveals Glenn’s Impact On Enid / How Tom Payne Plans To Make Negan Look Stupid / The Epic Pet Daryl Dixon Might Have

The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9 pm ET on AMC. For complete coverage and insider info all season long, follow @BrandonDavisBD on Twitter.

The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9 pm ET on AMC.