Originally, Negan was almost a character named Davidson, the exiled former leader of the Alexandria Safe Zone. However, creator Robert Kirkman chose to keep them separate, allowing Negan to become a uniquely iconic character. By doing so, Kirkman enabled Negan to thrive and become a cornerstone of the franchise without being tied to any preexisting story.
Robert Kirkman recently shared that the iconic character Negan from The Walking Dead could have had a very different origin story. Originally considered to be "Davidson," the exiled former leader of the Alexandria Safe Zone, Negan was almost given a completely different backstory that would have made him the dark opposite of Rick Grimes. This would have drastically changed the character's past and the direction of the franchise. The idea was eventually scrapped, but Kirkman's original plans for Davidson as a character seeking vengeance against his former home were still a possibility until Negan's introduction. Kirkman has revealed that he had the option to make Negan the same as Davidson, a character briefly referenced in the series.Kirkman made the creative decision to not bring Davidson back as the series' next major villain, opting instead to begin laying the groundwork for Negan's eventual introduction. In Walking Dead Deluxe #76, Kirkman himself questioned whether the franchise would have been different if Negan had been Davidson, and ultimately concluded that he believed it wouldn't have been better. However, he acknowledged that he had that option. This indicates that he at least considered reviving his plan to introduce Davidson as a major threat to Rick Grimes and his people. By not tying Negan to any previous story and not making him Davidson, Kirkman allowed the character to flourish and become as foundational a character in the franchise's overall mythos as Rick, Carl, and Carol. While there are still some trace comparisons that could be made between the two character concepts, it is likely that their character trajectories would have been significantly different.The Walking Dead took a major turn by not giving its characters and audience the satisfaction of seeing Negan's eventual downfall. Instead, Negan became a central character in the second half of the series, trying to redeem himself for his past actions. It's uncertain if Davidson's storyline would have been similar. However, creator Robert Kirkman stands by his choice to introduce Negan instead of Davidson, a decision that most fans of The Walking Dead would likely agree with.