The Walking Dead: Timothy Olyphant Address Negan Casting Rumors

It's hard to imagine anybody other than Jeffrey Dean Morgan playing the part of Negan on The Walking Dead after months of getting to know the portrayal but ahead of the November 2015 casting announcement, a shortlist of actors included a different set of names up for the role.

Among the competition with Morgan was Garrett Dillahunt, Matt Dillon, and Timothy Olyphant according to the short list reports. However, Olyphant was recently asked by Digital Spy if he was ever invited to screen test or audition for the role and the actor says it never happened.

"I'm not familiar with it," Olyphant said. "I mean, I know it exists and I hear it's great. But if somebody offered me a part in The Walking Dead, I never heard about it."

Perhaps Olyphant was next in line if Morgan turned the role down? As the story goes, Morgan's agent was approached by AMC. Upon calling Morgan to tell him he was wanted as The Walking Dead's new villain, the agent was told, "It's f---ing Negan!" in an excited acceptance of the role. With Morgan so quick to take on portraying the hottest villain role on television, it's possible the rest of the list was never approached.

Olyphant is best known for his role as Raylan Givens on Justified. He will be appearing in Santa Clarita Diet on Netflix on February 3.

Henry Rollins, however, has confirmed he did audition for the role of Negan prior to Morgan's casting, saying that The Walking Dead comic book artist Charlie Adlard based the book's characters on him.

The official synopsis for the rest of The Walking Dead Season 7 reads...

Rick's group will find out yet again that the world isn't what they thought it was. It's much bigger than anything they've seen so far. While they have a singular purpose - to defeat Negan - it won't come easy. More importantly, victory will require more than Alexandria. They need the numbers of the Kingdom and the Hilltop, but, similar to how Rick felt, Ezekiel (Khary Payton) and Gregory (Xander Berkeley) do not want bloodshed. To convince them otherwise will take more than speeches. The lengths Rick and the group will have to go to in order to find weapons, food and new fighters is nothing short of remarkable.

We'll meet new survivors in incredible places. We'll see Rick and the group tested in ways we've never seen before. We'll see treachery from people we trust. Rick is confident as he will see his group and many others band together with the common goal of taking down Negan. But no amount of planning will prepare the group for all-out war with Negan and his army.

MORE WALKING DEAD:

Andrew Lincoln's Epic Reaction To Season 7 Finale / Episodes 7x09-7x011 Are Extended / Violent Takes Were Removed From Midseason Finale / Negan Featured in #162 Preview / Who Will Be The Next Major Death? / AMC Stock Takes Hit With TWD Ratings Drops / Spoilers: How Will Season 7 End? / Lennie James Confirms Major Betrayal / Season 7B Director List

The Walking Dead returns for the rest of its seventh season on February 12 at 9 p.m. ET on AMC. Fear the Walking Dead's third season does not yet have a premiere date but with The Walking Dead finale set for April 2, expectations for Fear's return are set for April 9. For complete coverage and insider info all season long, follow @BrandonDavisBD on Twitter.