“You have the wrong person” — Destination X host Jeffrey Morgan talks about his disbelief on getting the opportunity

From his zombie-slaying days on The Walking Dead to his intense drama roles in Supernatural and Grey's Anatomy, Destination X host Jeffrey Dean Morgan is no stranger to the big screen. He has established a reputation as a tough, no-nonsense performer. Even with that resume, however, Morgan was truly taken aback when NBC contacted him to offer him the position of hosting their newest reality show.

"[NBC] called… and I said, ‘I think you have the wrong person,’” Morgan tells PEOPLE. “I live on a farm, and I kill zombies, and I’m a dad, and I’m kind of a pain in the a–."

His early skepticism sprang from a long-held conviction that he wasn't cut out to host a reality show, not just from the sudden change in direction. However, it was his wife, the actress Hilarie Burton, who persuaded him to accept the offer in the end.

With Morgan at the helm, Destination X looks to add his distinctive touch to a genre that is frequently dominated by dramatized scripts and well-groomed hosts. The goal of the series is to combine psychological gaming, mystery, and adventure; perhaps what makes it unique is Morgan's genuine presence.

Why Destination X was the last thing Jeffrey Dean Morgan expected and why he said yes

Jeffrey Dean Morgan was initially in disbelief when NBC approached him about hosting Destination X. Morgan, who is known for playing tough, frequently melancholy characters, didn't think he would fit in with the exuberant, gregarious style that most reality TV hosts are supposed to have.

"I’m still not actually completely sure how the hell this happened," he said. "I am not like a typical host. I’m not Ryan Seacrest — who I love, and I think he’s excellent at his job — but that’s not me. I’m a bit on the crass side and I’ve got a very sarcastic sense of humor, and I didn’t picture it."

Actress Hilarie Burton, Morgan's wife, started to change his hesitancy. In the early 2000s, Burton, who had presented MTV's Total Request Live, saw a potential in her husband that even he was unaware of.

"It was my wife who said, ‘You know what?’ She came from this world. She came from the world of hosting," he says. "She said — in a very nice way, but much more diplomatic than I’m going to make it seem now — 'You’re not getting any younger. You’ve got this thing about you that it would be fun for you to be able to share that with the world, and you may have an opportunity to do that [by] hosting a show like this.'"

Now leading Destination X, Morgan brings a genuine, grounded presence that feels anything but formulaic. With Burton’s encouragement and his willingness to step outside his comfort zone, he may prove to be the show’s greatest asset.

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Destination X premieres on NBC on May 28, 2025, at 10 pm ET/PT.

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