The Walking Dead Director Reveals Carl and Negan Scene Toned Down for TV

A seventh season episode of The Walking Dead toned down a scene director Rosemary Rodriguez wanted to be a little bit more explicit in terms of how much skin was on display around teen Carl Grimes (Chandler Riggs), who is introduced to Negans (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) harem in Season 7 episode 7, Sing Me a Song. While touring the Sanctuary, Negan makes a crude remark encouraging Carl to ogle his collection of wives among them Frankie (Elyse Nicole DuFour), Amber (Autumn Dial), Tanya (Chloe Aktas), and Sherry (Christine Evangelista) each wearing matching black dresses, not resembling women who Negan says look like they do the books at an auto shop.

Part of the conversation, for me which I didnt quite win, to be honest with you was what they were going to be wearing, Rodriguez told Undead Walking. Because I like extremes and because Im not really afraid to dive into whatever it is, even if its politically incorrect or evil or dark, I just want to go as far as we can with that.

Rodriguez wanted the women to be wearing crazy sexy sh-t, like really go there, adding their clothes became more like a uniform, sort of. Not uniform, but a look that they all sort of had.

The scene is inspired by issue #105 of The Walking Dead comic book, where a much younger Carl is taken into Negans private quarters and told to gawk at scantily clad women lounging about in lingerie.

I struggled a little bit because I think one of the lines was about Carl sort of gawking because he hasnt really seen women like this before, and so I really wanted a reaction from him in seeing women in really sexy [outfits], Rodriguez said. Like really seeing them, their cleavage, and really being a little bit more explicit. Particularly for the show, because its so out there and not what we do, that I thought it was an opportunity to do that.

Reflecting on the scene as filmed, Rodriguez added, Thats a little bit of a thing that I wouldnt call it a battle, but I didnt get it exactly the way I wanted it.

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Since her Season 7 episode of The Walking Dead, Rodriguez directed Season 8 episode The Damned and Season 9 episode The Obliged. Season 10 returns to AMC with its season finale later this year.

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