The Walking Dead’s Producer Reveals Why Negan Didn't Cut Off Rick's Hand

Last Sunday, fans were almost certain that Rick Grimes was going to lose his hand in the Season 7 premiere of The Walking Dead. Audiences watched breathlessly as Negan hinted he might take the hero's hand before a shocking turn of events led fans to think Carl would lose the limb. However, both boys walked away from the episode with their hands intact, leaving fans to wonder just why Negan let them go. According to Gale Anne Hurt, the reasoning all comes down to fear.

The executive producer spoke with Entertainment Tonight and explained why Negan were allowed to keep their hands. "The truth is it was the mind game that Negan is playing with them," Hurd said. "It's much more brutal mentally for Negan to threaten Carl -- to threaten Rick's son -- than it was to threaten Rick himself. Rick should have manned up and said, 'OK, take it. If it's going to save someone, then take my hand.' It's much different when he's threatening his sons' hand, so that was really the decision."

Obviously, fans saw how emotionally wrecked Rick was about being forced to cut off Carl's hand. The boy solemnly asked his father to do it for the sake of the survivors, and Rick begrudgingly prepared to do the deed before Negan stopped him.

Talk about a serious mind-game, right?

However, there's always a chance that Rick will loose his hand in episodes to come. The hero famously lost his right hand in the comics years ago, and Andrew Lincoln has openly said he'd like the show to visit that storyline.

"You know, I campaigned two seasons ago when the Governor was around... I was saying, 'You've gotta do the hand guys!' And Victor, who was in charge of special effects, just said, 'No, no no no. Anybody else but not you. It'll cost a fortune with green screen and blue screen,'" Lincoln told ComicBook.com. "But you know, I'm of the opinion that certainly with where the story seems to be going this season, no one is safe of any long term damage."

If you aren't familiar with the comics, then you should know that Rick lost his hand a long time ago. The lead has his hand cut off by The Governor in Issue #28 after the latter captures him. The baddie wanted to prove how dangerous he was, so he chose to chop off Rick's hand with a knife. The event left Rick with a temporary handicap as he adapted to the injury.

However, The Governor failed to do the grim deed when he appeared on the popular show. The decision piqued fans' curiosity, and many were convinced Negan would do what the former villain couldn't.

What do you guys think? Do you believe that Negan will still take Rick's hand off at some point this season? Let us know in the comments below!

The Walking Dead airs on Sundays at 8/9 p.m. ET on AMC.

[H/T] Entertainment Tonight