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Are you ready to say goodbye, The Walking Dead fans?

AMC has released the first trailer for Season 9 of this mega-hit, which is notable for a couple reasons:

ONE: New Walking Dead footage! Yes! Awesome! Hooray!

TWO: Andrew Lincoln will be leaving the series as Rick Grimes at the end of the upcoming new season.

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He confirmed this very strong rumor at the show’s Comic-Con panel on Friday, July 20.

“This will be my last season, playing the part of Rick Grimes,” the actor announced in front of thousands of fans, adding:

“I love this show. It means everything to me. I love the people who make this show. I promise not to cry – I’ve done enough crying on screen."

He then cried, just a little bit, concluding:

"I’m particularly fond of the people who watch this show, you people.

"This has been the most extraordinary, beautiful experience of my experience… So I just want to thank you.

As for the trailer itself?

We hear Rick’s arch enemy, Negan, early on, as he growls:

“You think you’ve got all this on lock…"

Naturally, of course, it is anything but. 

At one point in the footage, we see Michonne warn Maggie that they need to come up with some rules of conduct for the newly blended communities.

Elsewhere, Daryl appears to have been appointed disciplinarian.

There’s also our first glimpse here at Maggie and Glenn’s baby, which is both precious and bittersweet, considering the fate of Glenn at Negan’s hands.

Or his bat, we guess, to be more specific.

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“We’ll see our group together working in unity in a lot of ways, but you’ll also see some changes in the way that they deal with each other,” show runner Angela Kang has teased of Season 9.

“In some ways, you’ll see that the vision has succeeded beyond anybody’s wildest imagination. But you’ll also see the cracks in that."

Interesting.

The Walking Dead returns with new episodes on Sunday, October 7.

Remember to follow this link and watch The Walking Dead online if you need to catch up!