AMC is asking The Walking Dead viewers about their interest in a Negan spinoff. The long-running post-apocalyptic series has shocked fans with cliffhangers and fan-favorite character deaths since its debut nearly ten years ago on AMC. The long-delayed Walking Dead season 10 finale aired on AMC in October after its premiere was pushed back in April due to the coronavirus pandemic. Episode 16 was intended to air a week after episode 15, but production was brought to a halt, and AMC decided to expand season 10 with six additional episodes, which began airing back in February. The Walking Dead season 11 will release in late 2021, and though the final season is approaching, AMC is already preparing for more content from The Walking Dead universe.
The season 10 finale shows a new side of Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), the former Savior leader who first appeared on the series in season 6. Viewers are treated to Negan's origin story in the final bonus episode "Here's Negan," which also featured his wife Lucille (played by Morgan's real-life wife, Hilarie Burton), who he names his iconic barbed-wire baseball bat after. The episode features many big reveals, including the fact that Lucille, who was previously assumed to have passed away from cancer, actually dies by suicide. It also shows the impact her death has on Negan, and how it shaped his character from then on. While Negan has already had somewhat of a redemption arc in the past couple seasons, The Walking Dead season 10 finale episode is a big turning point for the character, and AMC is already feeling out audiences' interest in a series solely about around the fan-favorite character.
AMC Popular Culturists (via ComicBook), an AMC Networks monthly survey, is asking The Walking Dead viewers after the airing of season 10 episode 22, "Here's Negan,", if they would be interested in a Negan spinoff series. The survey, which is only available to AMC viewers registered to give feedback through AMC Popular Culturists, asked viewers to rank their level of interest in either a new limited series, ongoing series or additional episodes revolving around Negan's backstory. The survey asks fans about their interest in "additional episodes or series exploring Negan's backstory prior to meeting Rick's group."
A Negan series would not be the first spinoff for the Walking Dead universe. Though its ratings have dwindled in the last couple of seasons, The Walking Dead has remained a top program for AMC. Its popularity has led to an after-show talk show, Talking Dead, two spinoff series - Fear the Walking Dead and The Walking Dead: World Beyond - as well as its upcoming Daryl and Carol spinoff and anthology series, Tales of the Walking Dead. Additionally, the upcoming Walking Dead movie that will center on Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) is confirmed to begin filming in the spring.
Though it has not yet been revealed what Negan's role in season 11 will be, it's clear that AMC is banking on fans wanting to see more of him. Morgan himself has hinted at the possibility of a Negan spinoff. A character with as many layers as Negan can certainly have a lot more story to be told, whether it's more of his backstory or to continue his adventures beyond The Walking Dead's final season.
Source: ComicBook