The Walking Dead: Negan’s back story will make it into the show
By Sonya Iryna
![Spencer Monroe (Austin Nichols) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) in Episode 8Photo by Gene Page/AMC Spencer Monroe (Austin Nichols) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) in Episode 8Photo by Gene Page/AMC](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/b7d866d78eefc8fd853635018f9a558b60c168bafe07c9d7f0e9b2fcc8b4bdbb.jpg)
Fans have wondered if Negan’s backstory, including how Lucille got her name, would ever be shown in the TV series. The show does plan to tell Negan and Lucille’s story.
In The Walking Dead comics Negan’s backstory wasn’t fully told until relatively recently. The story of how Negan became the villain fans love to hate was revealed in a stand alone comic called Here’s Negan.
Originally Here’s Negan was published just a few pages at a time but it was recently expanded. Negan’s entire backstory is set to be published in a hardcover edition in early October. It will be released on the 14th anniversary of The Walking Dead comic’s debut and just before The Walking Dead show kicks off season 8.
According to some comments showrunner Scott Gimple made to Yahoo TV Negan’s backstory will also be revealed in the TV show, although not quite yet. Gimple told Yahoo TV:
"“I do believe yes, it’s in the future. You know, I’m always careful about this, [because] things can absolutely change,” Gimple says. “There’s a loose plan in place I have.”"
The show doesn’t always follow The Walking Dead comic but has followed it more closely in recent seasons than in the early seasons. Negan’s storyline extends past the All Out War storyline in the comic so if the show follows the comic Negan could be around for awhile. That gives the writers plenty of time to address his back story. Although there have been hints that his back story could be revealed as early as season 8.
How Lucille Got Her Name
*possible spoilers from the comic ahead, so if you don’t know how Lucille got her name and don’t want to know, stop reading*
In Here’s Negan it was revealed that Nega’s brutal bat wrapped in barbed wire was named for his wife, Lucille, who died of cancer just as the apocalypse was beginning.
Negan had an affair, which he ended after his wife’s diagnosis of terminal cancer, but the couple was not on good terms at the time of her death. His mixed feelings about his affair and her death, along with the realization that he had loved his wife all along, led him to name the bat after his wife.
While The Walking Dead TV show takes a lot of liberties with the story lines from the comics and tends to change up storylines, characters, and character backstories it’s safe to assume they will probably stay pretty close to the comic canon when it comes to Negan’s backstory because it has such a big impact on the overall story.
More from Undead Walking
- Walking Dead alum Jayson Warner Smith promotes new film, Chipper, watch it now
- Walking Dead actor Chandler Riggs filming new movie in Tampa Bay
- Why is there no season 12 of The Walking Dead?
- Will Morgan Jones find Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live spinoff?
- Watch Tales of TWD actress Jillian Bell in Prime Video’s Candy Cane Lane
All Out War
When The Walking Dead returns with its 100th episode in October All Out War will be just beginning. It’s a safe assumption that the war will dominate the first half of the season. But, it’s possible that Negan’s back story could be told in the back half of season 8 when presumably the survivors are dealing with the aftermath of the war