Why Jeffrey Dean Morgan Didn’t Want the Lead Role in His New Horror Comedy

by

As a die-hard cinema enthusiast with decades of film appreciation under my belt, I must say that Jeffrey Dean Morgan‘s decision to step back from the leading role in Bloody Axe Wound was a shrewd move. His experience in the industry has taught him that being both a producer and a leading man can sometimes blur the lines between artistic integrity and self-promotion.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan won’t be the leading character in his upcoming horror comedy, Bloody Axe Wound, and here’s why: Instead, he takes on a supporting role as Butch Slater alongside Sari Arambulo and Billy Burke. The film revolves around Arambulo’s character, Abbie Bladecut, who is following in the footsteps of her serial killer father (Burke) to become the first female slasher villain in the family. From the trailer, it seems like a hilarious and entertaining ride.

In an interview with Screen Rant, Hilarie Burton, who co-produced the film Bloody Axe Wound along with her husband, actor Morgan Freeman, explained that Morgan opted against playing the lead role of Roger Bladecut, Abbie’s father in the movie. This was due to his concern about potential conflicts of interest if he were both a producer and the leading man. Additionally, his busy schedule filming the upcoming season of The Walking Dead: Dead City might have contributed to his decision to take a step back from Bloody Axe Wound. However, in the end, everything worked out smoothly with the help of actor Burke.

In a nutshell, Jeff had some concerns about potential conflicts of interest while simultaneously creating the project as his own platform, and he was occupied with other projects such as Dead City at the time. Consequently, we searched for someone else to direct Bladecut. Over Thanksgiving, Billy spent time here with his family, and during our casual conversation on the couch, we suggested him to watch Uncle Peckerhead, a peculiar movie he might enjoy. After watching it, he expressed interest in reading the script for Bladecut.

We forwarded it to him, and Billy reacted as if he had claimed ownership, saying something like ‘This is now mine.’ To be fair, there isn’t anyone else who could have performed it better than Billy. We were considering asking him, but the proposition seemed quite demanding – moving cross country, staying with us for three weeks, and spending six hours every day in makeup. It’s a lot to ask of a friend, but Billy excelled. He truly is exceptional.

Will Jeffrey Dean Morgan Return to His Roots in ‘Dead City?’

In the upcoming second season of “The Walking Dead: Dead City,” Morgan will reappear as Negan, joining forces once more with co-star Lauren Cohan. As they traverse the zombie-infested Manhattan, premiering in spring 2025, fans are left wondering if Negan’s character will revert to his past behaviors. The recently unveiled teaser trailer has sparked many questions about this transformation.

Previously, Negan was the brutal ruler of the Saviors in The Walking Dead, later showing signs of redemption by aiding Maggie, Michonne, and others, culminating in marriage. In the trailer for Dead City Season 2, he appears with a new barbed wire bat like Lucille and seems to be leading a fresh batch of survivors. So, is Negan reverting back to his old self? Well, he never truly left, but it certainly looks like he’ll further solidify his anti-hero persona in the upcoming season, which promises to be exciting.

In the interim, do take a look at “Bloody Axe Wound” by RLJE Films and Shudder, available for streaming. Also, catch up with all seasons of “The Walking Dead: Dead City” on AMC+, as season 2 is scheduled for release next year. Enjoy your viewing!

Read More

2024-12-27 21:01