With just over two months to go before The Walking Dead returns for the second half of Season 4, many questions still linger about several aspects of the show. One such question is whether or not Carol, played by Melissa Suzanne McBride, will return before the season ends.

Executive producer Robert Kirkman confirms that the character will definitely return before Season 4 comes to its conclusion. Carol was sent away by Rick (Andrew Lincoln) in "Indifference", after he learned she murdered two members of their camp. We last saw her standing in the middle of a deserted suburb, and Daryl was none too happy about this, all loose ends that will get tied up.

Robert Kirkman explains that The Sanctuary will come into play as well, which was teased in the episode "Isolation". The Sanctuary was mentioned by a mysterious voice on the radio when Daryl (Norman Reedus), Michonne (Danai Gurira), Bob (Larry Gilliard Jr.) and Tyreese (Chad Coleman) were going out on a supply run.

The Sanctuary first appeared in issue 104 of Robert Kirkman's comic book series, which serves as home to a group known as The Saviors. The location is a large factory surrounded by chain-link fences and stone barricades to keep the "walkers" out. Rick and his group go to war with The Saviors in the comic books, although it isn't known if this will happen in Season 4, or if they will hold off until Season 5.

Robert Kirkman also reveals that fans will know much more about Michonne and several characters by the end of Season 4, via flashbacks that will shed light on their lives before the zombie outbreak.

Here's what he had to say about Michonne in a separate interview.

"At the end of this season, you'll learn more about Michonne than all of Season 3. That scene in Episode 2 with Michonne is the beginning of a very long story about her that will be told over the course of this season that is going to really open her character up. We're going to see what really makes her tick. This season, more than any other, these characters are going to be fundamentally challenged."

The Walking Dead returns with the second half of Season 4 on Sunday, February 9.