One of TV’s go-to bad guys has joined the cast of The Walking Dead.

Xander Berkeley has reportedly signed a potential long-term deal with AMC’s The Walking Dead that will bring him into the series on a recurring basis with an option to be a series regular in the seventh season.

The early speculation appeared to suggest that Berkeley will be playing Negan, one of the most memorable villains from The Walking Dead comic book series. However, the initial report goes out of its way to say that Berkeley is not portraying Negan. Although it notes that his character shares some personality traits with Negan, including “narcissism, huge ego and self-preservation” in addition to the way he “[relishes] the superiority that comes with being in control, but [plays it off] with a car salesman-type charm.”

Our guess is that Berkeley is playing Gregory, the leader of the Hilltop Colony which is located within the vicinity of the Alexandria Safe Zone where Rick Grimes and the other survivors currently reside. Gregory’s role in the survivors’ conflict with Negan would also require the actor playing Gregory to stay with the show for an extended period. It also helps that Berkeley physically resembles Gregory’s depiction in the comic book series.

Some of Berkeley’s previous TV credits include 24, Nikita, Salem, Being Human, and Zoo. Berkeley will make his debut on The Walking Dead during the second half of the sixth season in early 2016.

Walking Dead fans, who do you think that Berkeley will portray on the TV series? Share your theories in the comment section below!

HT: TVLine

IMAGES: The CW, Image Comics