The Walking Dead Season 6 release date is set for October 11 at 9/8c on AMC. As such, more details and spoilers continue to surface on the web. This time, there are three new confirmed additions to the cast lineup. The new season will start with an extended 90-minute premiere.
Two New Characters Added to the Show
During San Diego Comic Con, a TWD panel confirmed that two actors will be joining the cast. Ethan Embry will star as Carter, who is a composite of several characters from the original comic source material.
"Ethan plays a combo of a few characters that we actually haven't hit yet or weren't able to hit in other characters," says TWD showrunner Scott M. Gimple, according to EW. "He is an Alexandrian, and has been there the whole time, just quite busy."
Actress Merrit Wever stars as Dr. Denise Cloyd, who is a medic and surgeon residing in the Alexandria Safe-Zone. Wever is better known for her Emmy award-winning performance as Zoe Barkow in Nurse Jackie.
Dawn of The Wolves
During another interview with EW, Gimple revealed that The Wolves are coming to the show. In the comics, they are a group of wandering bandits who rob and murder at every opportunity.
More disturbing, the marauders sadistically turn their victims into booby-trap zombies. Every person killed by The Wolves has a prominent "W" carved on their foreheads. At places they visited, they mark the area with their graffiti.
The Wolves appear to be an altered version of the The Scavengers, which attacked the Alexandria Safe-Zone in the comics. Based on the TWD Season 6 trailer, gunshots from the Alexandria gun battle attract a horde of zombies. This massive attack will lead to more deaths in the upcoming season.
Heath Added to Character Lineup
A prominent figure from The Walking Dead comic book series is joining the season 6 lineup of new characters. Played by actor Corey Hawkins, Heath is a new Alexandria supply runner who befriends Glenn Rhee. The African American character is also Denise's love interest. This information was confirmed earlier this month by The Hollywood Reporter.
Corey Hawkins is better known for his starring role as Dr. Dre in Straight Outta Compton, which will hit theaters on August 14.
Will Deanna Monroe Go Crazy?
Also unclear is how Deanna will cope with the loss of her husband Reg.
The original comic book featured a male version of Deanna named Douglass Monroe, whose wife is Regina. For the TV adaptation, Regina was converted into a male character named Reg.
Like the TV's Reg Monroe, Regina has her throat slit by Pete. After Regina's death, Douglass begins to lose touch with reality. Eventually, the Alexandria leader relinquishes control to main protagonist Rick Grimes.
Deanna may slip into madness, and eventual demise in a zombie attack. However, TWD showrunners may decide to keep her around a lot longer. Longtime Walking Dead fans will notice that there are major plot differences between the comics and the TV show. So, anything is possible.
