The Walking Dead (season 8)

The eighth season of The Walking Dead, an American post-apocalyptic horror television series on AMC, is scheduled to premiere on October 22, 2017,^[1] and consist of 16 episodes.^[2] Developed for television by Frank Darabont, the series is based on the eponymous series of comic books by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. The executive producers are Kirkman, David Alpert, Scott M. Gimple, Greg Nicotero, Tom Luse, and Gale Anne Hurd, with Gimple as showrunner. The season adapts the All Out War story arc from the comics.^[3]

Cast

Main cast

The eighth season features nineteen series regulars overall. For this season, Katelyn Nacon, Steven Ogg, and Pollyanna McIntosh were promoted to series regular status, after previously having recurring roles.^[3]

Starring

• Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, the series' protagonist, a former sheriff and the leader of Alexandria, who is leading a new militia to fight Negan and the Saviors.
• Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon, Rick's best friend, a hunter, and second in command in the militia against the Saviors.
• Lauren Cohan as Maggie Rhee, the pregnant widow of Glenn who had become a leading figure of the Hilltop Colony.
• Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes, Rick's teenage son and participant in the militia of Alexandria in order to protect his loved ones.
• Danai Gurira as Michonne, a katana-wielding warrior and Rick's girlfriend.
• Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier, a member of the group who overcame various traumas, who is spurred into fighting the Saviors as revenge for the deaths of Glenn and Abraham.
• Lennie James as Morgan Jones, the first survivor Rick had ever encountered, who now resides in the Kingdom.
• Alanna Masterson as Tara Chambler, a member of the group who serves as a liaison with Oceanside.
• Josh McDermitt as Dr. Eugene Porter, a survivor who pretended to know about the cure of the virus and whom Negan takes hostage.
• Christian Serratos as Rosita Espinosa, a pragmatic and protective member of the group, who also joins the war to avenge the death of her ex-boyfriend, Abraham.
• Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan, the manipulative and totalitarian leader of the Saviors who serves as the season's primary antagonist.

Also starring

• Seth Gilliam as Gabriel Stokes, a priest who has become hardened from his experiences with Rick's group.
• Ross Marquand as Aaron, an Alexandrian recruiter who brought Rick's group to Alexandria and is currently in the militia against the Saviors.
• Austin Amelio as Dwight, a subordinate of Negan who now works for Rick as a double agent against the Saviors.
• Tom Payne as Paul "Jesus" Rovia, a scout for the Hilltop Colony.
• Xander Berkeley as Gregory, the selfish and hypocritical leader of the Hilltop Colony whose influence diminished with Maggie's prominence.
• Katelyn Nacon as Enid, a member of Alexandria who forms a bond with Maggie and becomes a love interest for Carl.
• Steven Ogg as Simon, Negan's right-hand man.
• Pollyanna McIntosh as Jadis, the leader of the Scavengers who is secretly affiliated with Negan.

Supporting cast

Alexandria Safe-Zone

• Jason Douglas as Tobin, the foreman of Alexandria's construction crew and member Rick's new militia.
• Jordan Woods-Robinson as Eric Raleigh, Aaron's boyfriend and his former recruiting partner, who is now a member of Rick's militia.
• Kenric Green as Scott, a supply runner in Alexandria and member Rick's militia.
• Ted Huckabee as Bruce, a member of Alexandria's construction crew and member of Rick's militia.
• Dahlia Legault as Francine, a member of Alexandria's construction crew and member Rick's militia.

The Hilltop Colony

• R. Keith Harris as Dr. Harlan Carson, the doctor of the Hilltop Colony, who was kidnapped by Simon.
• James Chen as Kal, a guard of the Hilltop Colony and soldier of the Hilltop's militia.
• Peter Luis Zimmerman as Eduardo, a guard of the Hilltop Colony and soldier of the Hilltop's militia.
• Jeremy Palko as Andy, a resident of the Hilltop Colony and soldier of the Hilltop's militia.
• Karen Ceesay as Bertie, a resident of the Hilltop Colony and soldier of the Hilltop's militia.
• Brett Gentile as Freddie, a resident of the Hilltop Colony and soldier of the Hilltop's militia.
• Ilan Srulovicz as Wesley, a resident of the Hilltop Colony and soldier of the Hilltop's militia.

The Saviors

• Elizabeth Ludlow as Arat, one of Negan's top lieutenants.
• Jayson Warner Smith as Gavin, one of Negan's top lieutenants.
• Joshua Mikel as Jared, a hostile member of the Saviors, who works with Gavin.
• Mike Seal as Gary, a member of the Saviors.
• Lindsley Register as Laura, one of Negan's top lieutenants.

The Kingdom

• Khary Payton as Ezekiel, the charismatic leader of the Kingdom who allies with Rick against the Saviors.
• Cooper Andrews as Jerry, Ezekiel's bodyguard.
• Kerry Cahill as Dianne, one of Ezekiel's top soldiers.
• Daniel Newman as Daniel, one of Ezekiel's top soldiers.
• Carlos Navarro as Alvaro, one of Ezekiel's top soldiers.
• Macsen Lintz as Henry, a resident of the Kingdom and late Benjamin's younger brother.
• Jason Burkey as Kevin, a resident of the Kingdom.
• Nadine Marissa as Nabila, a resident of the Kingdom.

The Scavengers

• Thomas Francis Murphy as Brion, a high-ranking member of the Scavengers.
• Sabrina Gennarino as Tamiel, a superior member of the Scavengers and the right-hand of Jadis.

Production

The Walking Dead was renewed by AMC for a 16-episode eighth season on October 16, 2016.^[2] Production began on April 25, 2017, in Atlanta, Georgia.^[4] On July 12, 2017, production was shut down after stuntman John Bernecker was seriously injured, after falling more than 20 feet onto a concrete floor, suffering head injuries;^[5] Bernecker was later announced to have died from his injuries.^[6] Production resumed on July 17.^[7] In October 2016, it was reported that Maria Bello would have a role on the show.^[8]

The season premiere, which also serves as the series' milestone 100th episode, was directed by executive producer Greg Nicotero.^[9]

Episodes

Release

The first trailer for the season was released on July 21, 2017, at San Diego Comic-Con.^[10]

References

External links

• Official website
• List of The Walking Dead episodes on IMDb
• List of The Walking Dead episodes at TV.com