The Hollywood Reporter recently confirmed that actor Cory Hawkins will be playing Heath in season 6 of "The Walking Dead," but it now appears that the season will also introduce two entirely new characters not seen in the comic books created by Robert Kirkman. 

According to a report from Undead Walking, season 6 will introduce a male character named Kirk and his wife Hilda. Kirk is described as a blue collar working man in his 20's to 30's who avoids being cynical but is also willing to eliminate anyone that would get in his way. Hilda, his wife, is a strong woman who is not "wilting" or passive. Both are described as recurring guest stars but the casting call indicates that Kirk will be appearing in future seasons while Hilda will not, indicating that she might die before season 6 is over. 

A report from Cinema Blend speculates that Kirk and Hilda might be temporary names for Dwight and Sherry, who do appear in the comic books. However, Dwight's profile does not fit the "good guy turned rotten by bad luck" that Kirk is being described as. It is possible that the character is being altered for the television series. 

Undead Walking also points out that the characters will not be introduced until the main characters encounter the villain Negan.

It might be too early to introduce them at this point but the show has proven in the past that it is not glued to the canon of the comic books. It is possible they are being introduced early to give them more time for on-screen development. 

Of course there is the high possibility that Kirk and Hilda are entirely new and are not based on any character from the comic books, similar to Daryl Dixon, played by Norman Reedus. 

"The Walking Dead" season 6 premieres this October, following the season 1 finale of the new spin-off series "Fear the Walking Dead."