Negan’s evil side will resurface in The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2 – even after Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s character worked so hard to change his ways during the main show’s later seasons. The Walking Dead‘s panel at San Diego Comic Con peeled back the curtain on what zombie fans can expect when Dead City season 2 rolls around in 2025, and the resurgence of Negan’s villainous persona is the biggest takeaway.

Screen Rant was present at the panel for The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2’s SDCC trailer, and witnessed a leather-clad Negan wielding a baseball bat covered in barbed wire – Lucille II, probably – all over again. After the Saviors’ defeat, Negan earned a modicum of respect by helping Alexandria fight the Whisperers and the Commonwealth, and that redemption arc continued into Dead City season 1 when the reformed enemy risked his life to rescue Maggie and Glenn’s son. Despite that progress, Dead City season 2 trailer footage depicts Negan flicking back into classic “bad guy” mode.

The Dama Is Forcing Negan To Be A Villain In Dead City Season 2

The Dama Wants Old Negan, Not The New Guy

Evil Negan is most likely invoked by an even bigger villain. The Walking Dead: Dead City season 1’s ending saw Negan hauled before Lisa Emery’s character, the Dama, who leads the main Manhattan survivor group. War is brewing between the various New York factions as they compete for precious methane reserves, and after hearing tales of his exploits as leader of the Saviors, the Dama believes Negan can help her win. Negan’s return to villainy is, therefore, necessary for his survival. If he cannot tap into his inner tyrant, the Dama has no reason to keep him alive.

Dead City ‘s season 2 teaser footage shows a sinister smirk stretching across Negan’s face as he admires the renewed Lucille.

Negan already demonstrated his ability to switch between personalities on a dime during an especially tense Dead City season 1 scene. After he and Maggie found themselves pinned down by Burazi goons, Negan, like slipping on an old glove, immediately summoned the theatrical, ruthless, darkly comedic qualities he displayed early in his The Walking Dead run. He cut a Burazi member’s throat, soaked the others in blood, and successfully scared them off. With the job done, Negan went right back to his calm, well-meaning, “good” persona – much to Maggie’s amazement.

With his life in the Dama’s hands, Negan may have no choice but to flip that switch more frequently throughout Dead City season 2. It should be noted, however, that Dead City‘s season 2 teaser footage shows a sinister smirk stretching across Negan’s face as he admires the renewed Lucille. Even if the old Negan’s big comeback is nothing more than an elaborate act, he evidently feels tempted to embrace that dark corner of his mentality.

Maggie’s Betrayal May Have Pushed Negan Toward Embracing His Darker Side

Being Good Hasn’t Worked Out For Negan

Despite being integral to Alexandria’s victories over both the Whisperers and the Commonwealth, attitudes toward the ex-Savior leader stayed icy and Negan was never embraced as a true member of the community. Then, after The Walking Dead‘s ending, Negan’s wife was horrifically attacked by survivors from the New Babylon Federation. The couple split in the aftermath, leaving Negan completely alone.

When she finally catches up to him in season 2, the version of Negan that Maggie respects may have been replaced by the older version she hates.

Negan strove to be a better man regardless, but attempting to rescue Hershel in Dead City season 1 badly backfired when Maggie sold him out to the Dama. It would not be a huge surprise, therefore, if season 2 sees Negan decide life was better back when he was hitting home runs with human heads and spending his evenings surrounded by wives, plural. His return to villainy might begin as a performance for the Dama’s benefit, but once Negan rediscovers his taste for blood and the seductive pull of power, he might decide to stay that way.

That poses a big problem for Maggie, who will be attempting to rescue Negan in The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2, fixing her mistake from their previous mission. Lauren Cohan’s character believes the man she left behind in New York is worthy of salvation, but when she finally catches up to him in season 2, the version of Negan she respects may have been replaced by the older version she hates.

Dead City Season 2 Can’t Undo Negan’s Character Development Completely

Dead City Shouldn’t Walk Back Negan’s Character Growth

Whichever way Negan’s moral compass ends up pointing in The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2, the spinoff must avoid ruining the redemption arc Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s character began in 2018. After Rick Grimes locked him up, Negan gradually transitioned from wicked antagonist to sympathetic antihero, and had arguably evolved into an outright hero by the time The Walking Dead ended. If Negan reverts to being properly evil in Dead City season 2, those years of growth and evolution will go to waste.

Maybe Negan’s forthcoming dark moments are just drama for the Dama as he reluctantly plays along with her orders. Perhaps Negan genuinely takes a step back toward his Savior era in Dead City‘s sophomore season, but ultimately manages to resist the temptation when all is said and done. Whichever way the story plays out, The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2 must end with Negan continuing his slow walk down the path of redemption, relinquishing the barbed wire bat and leather jacket.