The Walking Dead Season 9 Has a Premiere Date

The Walking Dead's Season 9 premiere date was confirmed during the show's San Diego Comic-Con panel on Friday. The survivors return Sunday, Oct. 7, a date that's a little earlier than usual. It usually premieres closer to Halloween.

During the panel, star Andrew Lincoln confirmed that he's leaving the show. Lincoln has starred as Rick Grimes since the show's premiere in 2010, and his exit means there are no actors who appeared in the pilot on the show anymore. Lauren Cohan, who plays Maggie, is also leaving. Norman Reedus is expected to take over the lead role.

Several new cast members were also announced during the panel, including Brett Butler as a "salt-of-the-earth" lady named Tammy Rose, who's the wife of Hilltop's blacksmith Earl (John Finn); Dan Fogler as Luke, a survivor with a positive mental attitude; and Oscar nominee Samantha Morton as Alpha, the show's new big bad, who's an iconic comics character and the leader of a mysterious group called the Whisperers, who wear skin suits and live among the dead.

The Walking Dead Season 9 premieres Sunday, Oct. 7 at 9/8c on AMC.