'The Walking Dead' season 8 news: Series renewed; show to feature the Whisperers in the distant future?
"The Walking Dead" season 7 is about to premiere this Oct. 23, but AMC has already officially renewed the series for season 8. Given that season 7 is going to be split in half, with the latter premiering in 2017, season 8 won't premiere until October 2017. To get fans even more excited, it is now hinted that the show will be introducing the Whisperers.
As reported by Variety, the ratings for "The Walking Dead" took a small dip in season 6 compared to the stellar ratings of season 5. Despite this, the sixth season still managed to garner some of the highest viewings on television history, and the upcoming season 7 premiere, which is touted to be one of the bloodiest and violent in the show, is guaranteed to rake in even more viewers.
Because of this, the show is moving forward with season 8. It will still likely focus on the war between Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and the rest of the Alexandrians against Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and his Saviors, but AMC has also just released a brand new teaser image on Instagram, indicating the show will be introducing the Whisperers and their leader, Alpha.
The image posted is similar to an image from the original comic books by Robert Kirkman. The caption "You've been warned" was also stated in the comics, when the Whisperers posted a warning message for Rick and his companions.
In the comic books, Rick, and his group did manage to subdue Negan and his allies. However, when Rick's group tries to expand and grow their stronghold, they gain the attention of the Whisperers, a group of violent cannibals and murderers. These Whisperers have learned how to live in the post-apocalypse world by wearing zombie skin as clothing and by never speaking louder than a whisper.
While it is unlikely that the Whisperers will be a threat in season 7, as the show has yet to focus on Negan, they may be introduced in the season 7 finale and become fully introduced in season 8 where their story will intersect with Negan's, similar to how they did in the comic books.
"The Walking Dead" season 7 premieres on Oct. 23.
