Andrew Lincoln Says Rick Gets ‘His Strut Back’ In ‘The Walking Dead’

Things did not go very well for Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) in AMC’s “The Walking Dead” Season 7. But everything will change for the character in Season 8.

While at the New York Comic Con on Saturday (via Entertainment Weekly), Lincoln said, “Season 7 sucked for Rick Grimes, but Season 8, he’s definitely getting his strut back. We’ve got the gang back together. I’m working with a few of my special buddies. It’s reminiscent of seasons 1 to 4.”

Meanwhile, Jeffrey Dean Morgan also talked about his villainous character, Negan, and said that he will continue to be a “charismatic a---hole.” While speaking with Entertainment Weekly last week, the actor said, “We’re going to start seeing slivers of who this guy is beyond the brutality that we saw in season 7. The most fascinating stuff that I’ve got to do this year is seeing behind the leather jacket.”

“The Walking Dead” creator and executive producer Robert Kirkman seconded Morgan’s statements while at the NYCC. “We get to see slice of what Negan’s past is,” he said.

In other news, plenty of things are also in store for the other characters in the hit AMC TV series. Melissa McBride, who plays the role of Carol, told excited fans that her character is ready to fight in Season 8. Carol will also finally learn that it’s OK to not care too much about what others think. “But that doesn’t mean she’s not going to be baking something,” she teased.

Lennie James also dished on Morgan and said that his character will be “stuck.” “In a weird way, he has to go to war to find any peace – you see what I did there?” he told fans. The actor added that Morgan’s goal in Season 8 isn’t really about survival, but “about how we live.” “He will argue it until he is no more,” he added.

Additionally, the 100^th episode of “The Walking Dead” will feature special tributes to previous scenes that the cast and crew filmed throughout the past seven seasons. The 100^th episode will also mark the premiere for the series.

“The Walking Dead” Season 8 will premiere on AMC on Oct. 22 at 9 p.m. EDT.