Lucille

by

Summary

  • Jeffrey Dean Morgan got a “Lucille” tattoo as a tribute to Negan’s iconic bat.
  • Negan’s connection to Lucille adds depth to his character in The Walking Dead series.
  • Despite moving on from Lucille, the bat remains symbolic in Negan’s story arc.

In a casual and clear manner: Jeffrey Dean Morgan, famously known for his role as Negan in The Walking Dead, seldom appears without his signature bat. Moreover, the actor has mentioned considering a tattoo of the item that symbolizes Negan’s tyranny.

In an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2, I shared that I inked the name “Lucille” on my skin. This tattoo represents the intricate relationship between Negan and Maggie Rhee, portrayed by Lauren Cohan, a dynamic that continues to unfold throughout the new season. In the video, I mentioned this personal choice as a testament to the captivating storylines and characters that make The Walking Dead so compelling.

“I got a tattoo this year, it says, ‘Lucille.’ My wife played Lucille, but really it’s the bat.”

Morgan expressed that the prop he was using felt incredibly personal and like an integral part of his character, stating it as the one instance where it truly felt “of my own” and “an extension of me.” Furthermore, he mentioned…

“To have Lucille back, that’s when Negan is at his most Negan.”

Morgan boasts several meaningful tattoos, one of which commemorates his son Augustus and another honoring his daughter George Virginia, as reported by USA Today. Given that Morgan portrayed Negan from 2016 to 2022, it’s understandable why he would choose to honor a character so significant in his acting career with these tattoos.

In the fourteenth episode of The Walking Dead season 8, titled “Still Gotta Mean Something,” viewers learned that Negan named his bat “Lucille” after his deceased wife who succumbed to cancer. This heartbreaking anecdote provides a more complex layer to Negan, who initially appears as a one-dimensional villain in season 6. Despite using the bat to harm others, Negan demonstrates tender feelings for his late spouse and expresses remorse over his past actions. Morgan’s performance skillfully captures Negan’s complexity, suggesting that there is more to him than meets the eye. Additionally, fans were intrigued to discover that the bat was inspired by the 1967 crime drama Cool Hand Luke.

As the storyline of The Walking Dead unfolds, Negan develops a deep bond with his bat named Lucille, which he wields whenever he inflicts harm as the head of the Saviors. A particularly moving scene occurs in season 10, episode 22, titled “Here’s Negan,” where Negan sets his bat ablaze and expresses remorse to his wife. He understands that he must let go of her passing, even though he continues to cherish her memory and feel sorrow. This moment is both surprising and fitting. It’s also noteworthy because in this episode, Hilarie Burton Morgan, who plays Negan’s bat Lucille, acts alongside her husband, Morgan, as Morgan discussed in his behind-the-scenes conversation.

Over the past few years, I’ve had the pleasure of embodying various characters in films like the 2018 sci-fi creature feature “Rampage”, the chilling survival thriller “Fall” from 2022, and the blood-curling slasher “Bloody Axe Wound” in 2024. However, for countless fans, I’ll forever be associated with Negan, the man who wielded his bat and contemplated his next victim. Even though Negan destroyed Lucille, that prop was an integral part of the character, and it would have felt odd not to see him with it in a “Walking Dead” spinoff series. Luckily for us all, Negan and his iconic bat will return in season 2 of “The Walking Dead: Dead City”, premiering on AMC on May 4th, 2025. This time around, the bat has been given a fresh look, which seems fitting for this captivating character.

Read More

2025-04-04 17:10