Summary
Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s unforgettableThe Walking Deadcharacter, Negan Smith,is rarely seen without his bat, and the actor has talked about getting a tattoo of the object most associated with Negan’s reign of terror.
According toPEOPLE,Morgan explained that hegot a tattoo of the name “Lucille"in abehind-the-scenes videoforThe Walking Dead: Dead Cityseason 2, which continues to explorethe dynamic between Negan and Maggie Rhee (Lauren Cohan). Morgan said:
“I got a tattoo this year, it says, ‘Lucille.’ My wife played Lucille, but really it’s the bat.”
Morgan said this was the only time he had a prop that “felt so innately mine” and was also “an extension of the character.” He added:
“To have Lucille back, that’s when Negan is at his most Negan.”
Morgan has several tattoos that mean a lot to him, including ones that honor his son Augustus and daughter George Virginia, according toUSA Today. Since Morgan played Negan from 2016 to 2022, it’s no wonder that he would want to pay tribute to a character who is such a big part of his acting career.
InThe Walking Deadseason 8, episode 14, “Still Gotta Mean Something,“fans found out that Negan calls his bat “Lucille” because that was the name ofhis wife, who passed away from cancer. This tragic backstory adds some depth to Negan, who runs the risk of being a one-note villain when he is first introduced in season 6. Although Negan uses the bat to hurt or even kill others, he shows affection toward his late wife and regret about how he treated her. Morgan perfectly portrays Negan’s nuance and proves that no one knows the real him. Fans also liked finding out thatthe bat was inspired byCool Hand Luke, the crime drama released in 1967.
As the seasons ofThe Walking Deadprogress, Negan becomes more and more attached to his bat Lucille, which he uses every time he harms someone asthe leader of the Saviors. There aremany tragic moments inThe Walking Dead, but one of the most powerful scenes happens in season 10, episode 22, “Here’s Negan,” whenNegan burns his bat and tells his wife he’s sorry. He knows that he needs to move past her death. While he will always love her and grieve her, he can’t live in the past. It’s a shocking moment that also feels right. “Here’s Negan” is also a significant episodes since Morgan’s wife, Hilarie Burton Morgan, plays Lucille, as Morgan mentioned in his behind-the-scenes talk.
In recent years, Morgan has appeared in a2018 sci-fi monster movie calledRampageand several horror movies, includingthe 2022 survival thrillerFallandthe 2024 slasherBloody Axe Wound. But for many fans, he’s always going to be Negan, holding his bat and thinking about who his next victim should be. Although Negan burned Lucille, this prop is an important part of the character, and it would have felt strange to watch Morgan play Negan onaWalking Deadspinoff serieswithout her. Fans can see Negan and his beloved baseball bat inThe Walking Dead: Dead Cityseason 2, which willpremiere on May 4th, 2025 on AMC. The bat looks different this time around, which feels fitting.
