It has become a tradition for AMC's annual Walking Dead Comic-Con panel to reveal the season premiere date, but this year, the cable network decided to kick things off a bit early. AMC today released special Comic Con art for The Walking Dead, which also reveals October 22nd as the season 8 premiere, which coincides with the series' 100th episode. Aside from the Hall H panel on Friday, July 21 from 12:15 PM to 1:15 PM, AMC will also be present at MLK Park with a fan activation for fans of both The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead.
AMC is hosting a sprawling outdoor activation space that will feature interactive experiences for fans of the hit series The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead. The activations will take place at MLK Park, directly across from the San Diego Convention Center. The ongoing event will run between Thursday July 19th and Saturday, July 22nd from 11 AM to 7 PM PT, and Sunday, July 23rd from 11AM to 4 PM PT. It isn't ultimately clear what fans will be able to experience at MLK Park, but for fans heading to San Diego, you'll be able to find out tomorrow.
The Walking Dead Comic-Con panel on Friday will feature cast members Andrew Lincoln (Rick Grimes), Norman Reedus (Daryl Dixon), Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Negan), Lauren Cohan (Maggie Rhee), Danai Gurira (Michonne), Melissa McBride (Carol Peletier), Lennie James (Morgan Jones), Chandler Riggs (Carl Grimes), Seth Gilliam (Father Gabriel Stokes), Alanna Masterson (Tara Chambler) and Khary Payton (King Ezekiel). They will be joined by executive producer and showrunner Scott M. Gimple, executive producer Robert Kirkman, executive producer Gale Anne Hurd, executive producer Dave Alpert, and special effects makeup supervisor and executive producer Greg Nicotero in a panel moderated by Chris Hardwick (The Nerdist, Talking Dead).
Some had wondered if AMC would even go through with their Comic-Con plans, since just days earlier, stuntman John Bernecker passed away at just 33 years of age, after suffering a severe head injuring following an on-set fall where he plummeted more than 30 feet from a balcony to the concrete floor. Production was shut own for a few days, but filming resumed on Monday. With the cast members still in mourning, it remains to be seen if the cast and producers will pay homage to the stuntman during their Hall H panel in just two days. With the premiere date and poster already revealed, it seems likely that AMC is saving a new trailer for the Hall H crowd.
When production on Season 8 started in May, early set photos teased that Rick was taking the fight to the Saviors' home base, known as The Sanctuary, although no details have been given thus far. It has been confirmed that this season will delve into the All Out War story line from the comics, a two-volume, 16-issue series that chronicled the war between Negan and his Saviors, and the army assembled by Rick, which includes Alexandria, The Kingdom and the Hilltop Colony. While we wait for The Walking Dead Comic-Con panel in just two short days, take a look at the Season 8 Comic-Con poster, which teases an All Out War.
