(Spoiler alert: Please do not keep reading if you’re not caught up on “The Walking Dead”)
“The Walking Dead” Season 7 trailer unveiled at San Diego Comic-Con on Friday showed Negan in all his glory.
In the new teaser, we see all of Negan’s victims as they flashback to happy memories from the show, all while he taunts them with his sadistic game of Eeny Meeny Miny Mo. We also get our first look at King Ezekiel, who will be played by Khary Payton, along with his homebase, The Kingdom, and his pet tiger, Shiva.
During the same panel, fans learned that the new season will debut on Oct. 23. AMC also announced a new “The Walking Dead” preview special hosted by Chris Hardwick.
The special, which will air on Aug. 14, will give fans an early look at what to expect in the upcoming season, including exclusive interviews with the cast and executive producers and behind-the- scenes moments. A recap of the first six seasons is also set to air on Oct. 16.
Fans are eagerly — or angrily — awaiting the return of the show after the Season 6 finale ended on a major cliffhanger with several major characters in danger of being killed off.
The story had built for weeks toward the arrival of Negan, the new main villain played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan. From the comics, fans know Negan killed a member of Rick’s group upon his arrival. The problem? The show did not reveal who died.
It’s clear Negan killed someone, but clever editing prevented the audience from seeing the victim, leaving viewers on the hook to tune in for the start of Season 7.
'Walking Dead': 11 Theories on Who Negan Killed (Photos)
Why it's her: Michonne and Rick began a romantic relationship this season, and what better way to crush fans' hearts than to make him watch her get beaten to death?
Why it's him: Reedus has a new AMC travel show and may want to free up his calendar. He was also on "Talking Dead," an honor usually reserved for people whose characters died.
Why it's her: She would make sense as a substitute for Glenn.
Why it's not her: Would the show really kill a sick pregnant woman who everybody loves?
AARON (ROSS MARQUAND)
Why it's him: He's had so little screen time, he's disposable.
Why it's not him: He's had so little screen time, his death would have no weight. We only have this one picture of the poor guy. If the show wants to kill him, it should give him more lines first.
EUGENE (JOSH MCDERMITT)
Why it's him: He's made a point of stepping up to prove himself a survivor, and, well irony.
Why it's not him: He still has room to grow. And so does his mullet.
Why it's him: Abraham died in the comics in the manner that ultimately led to Denise's death on the TV show a few weeks ago. With his arc complete in the comics, it would make sense to kill him off now.
Why it's not him: His refusal to cower seems to have maybe won him Negan's respect.
Why it's not her: Sasha turned her hopelessness around last season, and it would be too depressing for her to die now.
Why it's her: She's in the sweet spot for "Walking Dead" deaths: popular and long-running, but not so popular and long-running that the show can't go on without her.
Why it's not her: Because it would feel like the show once again built up a character just to kill her off when it was dramatically convenient.
CARL (CHANDLER RIGGS)
Why it's him: Some fans don't like him lately, and they didn't even soften when he lost his eye.
Why it's not him: Hasn't he been through enough? Also, Negan charmingly commands, "If anybody says anything, cut the boy's other eye out and feed it to his father," right before he bludgeons his victim to death. Chances are he wouldn't say that if he was about to kill Carl.
