The Walking Dead: Lucille's Heartbreaking Flashback Delivers an Unexpected Emotional Punch for Jeffrey Dean Morgan

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, star of The Walking Dead: Dead City, reflected on the significance of a flashback scene in episode 4. The scene briefly featured Lucille, Negan's iconic weapon, a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire. Lucille was not only a tool of intimidation but also symbolized Negan's connection to his late wife, who died in the early days of the apocalypse. Morgan spoke about the impact that reuniting with Lucille had on his portrayal of Negan, recalling how the baseball bat influenced his initial performance when he first joined The Walking Dead in season 6.

I was overjoyed, wearing the leather jacket and holding Lucille in my hand. Words cannot express how much I long for her. There is something about gripping that bat during a scene that completes me.

The bond I share with that wooden object entwined in barbed wire will always remain — a bond I have as Jeff. It is incredibly special because, for some reason, on that initial day when Negan emerges from the trailer and in the first few days of filming, I developed a peculiar connection to this item. It symbolized a significant part of my acting, illustrating the lean back and embodying the physicality of Negan simply by holding it. Everything originated from that bat.

What Lucille Means To Negan In The Walking Dead

During his leadership of the Saviors, Lucille served as Negan's iconic weapon in The Walking Dead. In season 7, Rosita's shot inflicted a dent on Lucille, provoking Negan's intense anger and revealing his emotional attachment to the bat. However, after assisting the core survivors in the war against the Whisperers in season 10, Negan undergoes introspection and makes the decision to burn Lucille, symbolizing a fresh start.

Lucille not only represents Negan's villainous past but also serves as his unhealthy coping mechanism for the loss of his wife, also named Lucille. The act of destroying Lucille holds significant symbolism for Negan, signifying his ongoing pursuit of change in The Walking Dead: Dead City. While the series includes unsettling reminders of Negan's violent tendencies, it underscores how he willingly embraces his darker aspects in order to survive.

However, The Walking Dead: Dead City's antagonist, known as The Croat, appears to have a calculated plan to slowly wear down Negan. In episode 4, these two characters engage in a confrontation, yet The Croat refrains from killing Negan, suggesting that he has further intentions for him in the future. As The Walking Dead: Dead City progresses, it remains unclear whether Negan will have to draw upon his past experiences with the Saviors and Lucille even more intensely.