Before Dead City season 3 premieres on AMC and AMC+ on Sunday, July 26, Jeffrey Dean Morgan already declared it the best season of the Walking Dead spinoff so far—pinning the momentum on a newly evolving relationship between Maggie and Negan as they plan to ta
The Walking Dead spinoff Dead City season 3 isn’t even on screens yet, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan is already telling viewers to expect their best shot at it.
The new season premiered at the Monte-Carlo TV Festival before its AMC and AMC+ debut on Sunday, July 26. Speaking about what’s coming next, Morgan said Dead City season 3 is “our best season—by far.” He added, “This is such a different relationship now.”
Morgan’s focus is the relationship between Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Negan—the two characters with deep history, now entering a fresh phase of conflict and cooperation. Their latest plan is tied to the season’s central push: they’re working toward taking back Manhattan from New Babylon.
Morgan also teased what that shift means for Negan himself. He framed it as both growth and added complexity. saying Negan “was a great villain and now he just got more layers.” Morgan described Negan’s core as still recognizable—“He will always be this person that walked out of a trailer 11 years ago”—then pointed to a meaningful change in how Negan operates. saying. “This year there’s such a shift in their relationship that brings out yet another side of him.”.
That kind of praise lands differently when it’s coming from a franchise actor known for being direct with fans. The claim also carries extra weight because Morgan isn’t only calling the season good—he’s placing it above everything that came before. The first two seasons may have built a foundation. but the reception numbers show why season 3’s standard feels so high: the first season has an 80% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. while season 2 sits at 63%.
Beyond Morgan’s promise, the season 3 setup has been shaped by a growing sense of “new” around the show. A new mission and a renewed Maggie-and-Negan dynamic are central to the pitch, and the cast additions are part of the reason the early buzz is turning toward bigger expectations.
Jimmi Simpson will star as Dillard, a new character who runs a bar and comes with “special powers,” according to the reporting. Aimee Garcia and Raul Castillo are also joining the cast as Renata and Luis, a brother-sister duo described as ready to help Maggie and Negan.
Taken together, Morgan’s words put the emphasis on the same ingredients the season seems built around: a fresh plan for Manhattan, a relationship that’s changing in real time, and a Negan who’s promised to feel more layered than ever.
Dead City season 3 premieres Sunday, July 26, on AMC and AMC+.
Dead City season 3 Jeffrey Dean Morgan Negan Maggie Lauren Cohan AMC AMC+ Monte-Carlo TV Festival taking back Manhattan from New Babylon Jimmi Simpson Dillard Aimee Garcia Raul Castillo Renata Luis
Wait so season 3 is already the “best” and it hasn’t even aired? AMC always hypes stuff like it’s the Super Bowl lol.
I don’t even get it, are they taking back Manhattan from “New Babylon” or like building it again? Feels like the same plot but with new names.
Morgan saying Negan has more “layers” just means they’re gonna make him soft now. Like villain arc complete, congrats? I swear they always do that.
Rotten Tomatoes numbers changing is wild, 80% vs 63%… but Rotten Tomatoes also be random sometimes. Also “special powers” for the bar guy?? So Negan and Maggie fighting and then magic bar powers come in? Sounds messy but I’ll still watch.