The Hollywood Reporter spoke with Williams about Noah's fate, how the character's death will impact Glenn and the impending clash with Alexandria.
Were you surprised to learn of Noah's fate?
No, actually, I called it beforehand! I had read a scene in episode 511 where we'd all gotten to Alexandria and were sleeping in the house for the first time. I don't think this scene made it in and this may be why: Rick laid a blanket over Carl (Chandler Riggs) and Noah and for some reason, that tipped me off. I went, "That's it, I'm dying!" There's no reason why he would do that; Noah is not his child. Noah means something to him, so they're going to kill me and that's it. I spread that rumor around set to pick people's brains. Norman was saying, "There's no way! You haven't been here long enough to die, you have to have some time here first for people to fall in love with you and then that's when you go." I felt it and a few days later, [showrunner] Scott Gimple called the rest of the cast to give them the news, he was prepared for a bunch of, "Aww, that's sad!" But everyone knew and said I knew already. I was a fan of the show beforehand and as much as I love Noah and was his biggest champion, I had a feeling the kid had to go! There was too much damaged caused by his introduction. You don't stay around long in this world when that happens. The moment when they made him part of the run crew and he can't run? That was going to be how that happened.
There were so much foreshadowing. "You're in it for the long run?" Then we get to the van and the techno music is playing "Now you're going to die"! (Laughs.) It's so clear, if people only knew. Jennifer Lynch, the director, when we shot it said, "This kid has not gotten a fair shake so we're going to make you a badass right before you go and make you valuable and make sure that you're now Glenn's right-hand man so his death will affect him the way it needs to."
When you signed on for the role, did you know it was a short-time gig?
It's longer than I expected it to be. Initially, my contract was for three episodes — which would have put my death around Beth's (Emily Kinney'). Everyone is always paranoid in a way of not knowing when that hammer is going to drop. I didn't think I'd make it out of the season. But as it went on, this is episode 14 of 16, I kept thinking maybe if I laid low for two episodes... but it doesn't really play out that way. They gave me too much to do and eventually it had to backfire.
This is one of those types of shows where you're on it for life and you're willing to contribute in any way, shape or form. In a way, these are my brothers and sisters of acting. So for me, Noah's death was beautiful because I know what it's going to do for Steven. I know he's going to crush what ever is coming next. I knew I'd get another gig but this is going to set up some awesome acting for these people. I'd love to have worked on it for the rest of my life but I love these people and what they do. It's going to set up some great stuff for them.
Do you think Noah died a hero? I mean, he got the group to Alexandria — which was part of Beth's last dying wish to get Noah to Virginia.
I think in a way he did. Noah's last words did not have to do with that situation; he was not saying, "Don't let go of me," he was saying, "Don't let go of your humanity." There's also the camaraderie between the two characters and giving Steven everything he needed to take Glenn to where he needs to go next. It was pitched to me that Noah's death has to be a huge body blow to Glenn. He had to have actively tried to save this kid and then see not the idea of him dying but see it happen in front of him. He has to be able to hear it, too.
Did you get a death dinner with the cast?
I did, which I didn't expect because I didn't feel like I'd been there long enough. It's a beautiful thing; I don't know any other show that does that. They take the mourning process for characters serious and it really helps everything. Tears were shed and the incredible words that were said will stay with me for the rest of my life. It was the first step into, "OK, let's bury another one." They honor the dead well.
How do you think Noah's death is going to impact Glenn?
It's going to be huge. When you look at Glenn's trajectory and where he's been, he's one of the few characters to come into world without a family. We don't know much about what he lost in the world beforehand. He's been quickly adapting to this world. Relationship-wise, he's been building them possibly better than he did beforehand. He's never actively lost someone that he's tried to save. The way Steven pulled it off when he knocks Nicholas out — you see what's in his eyes; this is going to rock him. We'll see Glenn in a place where Rick was a few episodes ago — being kind of ruthless and ready to go. Once we got to Alexandria, we knew something was going to happen and that the group would probably take this place. I didn't know it would be Noah's death. I don't know what's coming but I feel like Glenn is going to lead the charge to take this place. I think this is going to be one of the few times where Glenn steps out of Rick's shadow and goes for it. He's done losing people — and losing them for stupid reasons.
If Nicolas makes it through the rest of the season, I'd be really surprised. Everyone who has died this season pretty much almost had some connection to Glenn where it wasn't his fault that they didn't leave. Beth is his sister-in-law and they just assumed she was gone but by the time found out she was alive, she was gone. With Tyreese, he'd already been bitten when Glenn got there. Glenn tried but it wasn't really his fault. With Noah, the difference is Glenn had his hand and he had to watch him be ripped apart. That's going to really mess him up. I can't wait to see in what way.
Considering Glenn and Nicholas are coming back without Noah and Deanna and Reg's son, Aiden, how do you think that will affect Deanna's decision as she weighs Father Gabriel's warning that Rick's group aren't good people?
The way she reacts is what's going to directly affect Glenn. Because of what Gabriel has said, her antennas are now up and she's looking for these signs that these are terrible people. The last thing Aiden says to his dad is, "Take care," and he leaves. Their last note with them was nice — Deanna thanks Glenn for keeping her kid in check. If at any point in time that she suggests that the run went poorly because of Glenn, he's going off and that's it. He knows what happened and the fact that none of these people would have died had their people been well-trained. That run could have gone really well if Aiden hadn't shot the walker with the grenade. They would have been in and out; everyone was firing on all cylinders. Aiden almost got all of the group killed, that's what's crazy. He almost killed four major characters. Deanna's reaction is they key; if she reacts negatively, Glenn can't take one more person telling him that he didn't do his job right when he knows he did.
What kind of legacy do you think Noah will have with Rick's group? Is he part of the alarm bell that shifts the balance of power in Alexandria?
Noah was pitched to be as a catalyst. That's it. He propels storylines. It wasn't until I saw how it was being played out — he gets them to Washington and Alexandria because he's going to his house in Virginia. But now I'm beginning to see he's propelling stories for everyone. Noah is going to be a turning point. That's what he is. He signifies this angle where everything shifts.
I humbly say this but Noah is a Shane (Jon Bernthal) in a way — he wasn't around for as long as people would have liked but Shane dying directly affected things for season five: the way Rick reacts to Jessie because of Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies) and Shane. I see Noah as being a catalyst for things three, four seasons from now.
Can't isolate the show...but I don't know why people have a problem with pointing out that it's a reflection of it.
Last episode was a top 10 ep of the series. Lol at posters not understanding the character arcs and being mad at the writers for not writing some happily ever after shyt. 
.
But how many black males is this show going to kill? 