Robert Kirkman Discusses The Walking Dead Season 5 and Beyond

2014/06/26 22:16:50 +00:00 | Derek Anderson

Fans of The Walking Dead can still hear the echo of the sliding door slamming on our heroes. We last saw Rick and company stuck in a tight spot in Terminus at the end of Season 4. While Season 5 isn't expected to return until October, series creator Robert Kirkman is already teasing what viewers can expect in the show's Season 5 premiere, as well as sharing how long he thinks the show could last. *Season 4 and Season 5 Spoiler Warning*

Kirkman recently called into EW's radio station to chat about his new comic book Outcast, and eventually the conversation turned to The Walking Dead's upcoming fifth season. Those who have watched the show through Season 4 know that in the aftermath of the Governor's prison assault, Rick and the surviving members of the group finally reunited... as prisoners in a train car in the community of Terminus. Here's what Kirkman had to say to EW about where the show will go from the group's sudden imprisonment at the hands of Terminus' leader Gareth and his followers, including a death prediction that's almost surely a joke (but then again, nobody is safe on The Walking Dead):

Regarding the mystery of Terminus and what will be revealed of the community in the Season 5 premiere:

"There's a lot going on with Terminus. In our premiere episode of season 5 we’'e going to give a ton of answers of who the people of Terminus are, what they're doing, why they're doing it, what's going on with them. And by the end of that episode you're going to have a much better understanding of what's going on with them and why they're so important to the show. Oh, and Daryl dies."

On whether or not Rick's group will make it out of the locked and guarded train car:

"They definitely get out of that train car. They do not spend the entirety of season 5 in that train car. It is through ingenuity and creativity and somewhat savageness that they are able to make their way out of that train car."

On the show's long-term lifespan:

"I'm still doing the comic and plan in doing it for many, many years. And right now the issues that we are doing as we speak is material that could be adapted into a season 10, 11, or 12 depending on how we adapt things. And we're not stopping. So five years for now we'll be doing comics that could be for season 15. Now, it's unrealistic to think it can go for that long, but if the show remains successful, the potential is there for that…. All that said, I'm just hoping and praying we make it to season 7."

To recap some of our recent Season 5 news, it was revealed that Seth Gilliam (The Wire) has officially joined the cast, but his role has not been officially revealed. Andrew J. West as (Gareth, the leader of Terminus), Alanna Masterson (Tara) and Christian Serratos (Rosita) have all been promoted to series regulars. This means that they will likely be more prominently featured in The Walking Dead Season 5, but it does not mean that they cannot be killed off.

Scott M. Gimple, the Season 4 showrunner, has returned for The Walking Dead Season 5. Sixteen episodes are planned and an October premiere is expected. New content should trickle in over the coming months and it’s likely that the first Season 5 trailer will drop during the San Diego Comic-Con in July, although it has not been officially confirmed or announced at this time. We’ll keep Daily Dead readers posted on any developments and don’t forget to check out our special features from The Walking Dead Season 4: