If you were disappointed that the last Comic-con panel for the last season of The Walking Dead was not going to be in Hall H, you are in luck. In the Comic-con@Home panel for the series, moderator Chris Hardwick announced that there would be a panel at SDCC next year. For all our sakes, let’s assume SDCC will indeed be back next year, and this show will get the send-off it deserves from the fans.

The 11th and final season of The Walking Dead will return early on August 22nd. If you have AMC+, episodes will be up a week early (the premiere drops August 15th there). The final season is broken into three parts, with the second two parts airing next year. According to Scott M. Gimple and Angela Kang, the show will reinvent itself every 8 episodes. While series 10C may have concentrated on the emotions and headspace of characters, season 11 is a return to a bigger scope. The emotional state of the characters from the last 6 episodes will affect how the story plays out next season. According to Kang, the series will go out with a bang. A major focus? The Commonwealth.

On today’s panel was Scott M. Gimple, Angela Kang, Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Lauren Cohan, Christian Serratos, Josh McDermitt, Khary Payton, Eleanor Matsuura, and Michael James Shaw. The full panel can be viewed here.

The Walking Dead season 11
Season 11 of The Walking Dead heads underground. (Photo Credit: AMC / The Walking Dead)

NEW THIS SEASON

Joining the cast is Laila Robins as Pamela Milton and Josh Hamilton as Lance Hornsby. For readers of the comic, you know both characters are part of the Commonwealth. Also joining the show is Margot Bingham. Although Bingham’s character was not announced, she was the voice of Eugene’s mysterious radio friend, Stephanie, last season. Rounding out the newcomers is Ritchie Coster in an undisclosed role.

Previously announced, Michael James Shaw will appear in the role of Mercer. Shaw appeared on the panel and talked a little bit about the thrill of joining the show. Shaw noted that as an awkward comic-book loving kid, this was the perfect antidote for the last year. “Getting to be this awesome comic book character, it’s a dream,” Shaw said.

RETURNING CAST

Each of the returning cast members on the panel discussed the emotional status of their characters for the season. Melissa McBride said that for Carol, “Caring is enough to fit in.” McBride said Carol is confident that things will work out with Daryl based on their history. For Norman Reedus, he sees a piece of each of the departed characters in Daryl. Reedus explained that Daryl’s way to survive is hang on to parts of his friends. Reedus admitted that after so many years playing the role, the character had started to bleed into his own life. “[We] both kind of hate people,” Reedus joked.

Josh McDermitt talked about Eugene’s waning confidence. McDermitt explained that Eugene had always been able to read situations until he had lead his friends into a trap at the end of season 6. Also second guessing themselves is Negan. Jeffrey Dean Morgan explained that Negan wanted to fit into the group. Morgan added that he doubted that the old Negan would ever fully disappear. The friction with Maggie this season will test Negan’s will to change.

As for Maggie, Lauren Cohan confirms that Maggie will still be in conflict with Negan for obvious reasons. Additionally, Maggie and Hershel will have to deal with the aftermath of the horrors they experienced before they returned to Alexandria. “It’s the most fun I’ve ever had on the show,” Cohan said. A part of that story will involve the Reapers. Per Kang, the Reapers are “the pinnacle of human killers.” Kang described the Reapers as a group that were skilled warriors even before the undead apocalypse. Finally, for Ezekial, Rosita, and Yumiko, they will continue to fight for their loved ones against overwhelming odds.

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