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The Walking Dead season 7: Ezekiel's tiger reportedly glimpsed on set

Shiva the tiger is said to be depicted using a mixture of animatronics and CGI

Jacob Stolworthy

Saturday 04 June 2016 15:19 BST

With production on The Walking Dead season seven underway, it's a sure bet that plot details regarding the zombie drama's upcoming story arcs will be divulged over the coming months.

One such detail is the inclusion of two new characters - namely Ezekiel and his pet tiger, Shiva.

Graphic novel readers will know that Ezekiel is the leader of a faction known as The Kingdom, a member of which encountered Carol (Melissa McBride) and Morgan (Lennie James) in the show's sixth season finale.

The most shocking Walking Dead moments

Show all 10

1/10The most shocking Walking Dead moments

The most shocking Walking Dead moments

Sophie's a walker (season 2, episode 7)

Much of season two's opening half is spent looking for Sophia, the missing daughter of Carol (Melissa McBride). Turns out she was locked up in Hershel's barn as a zombie all along.

The most shocking Walking Dead moments

Shane reanimates without being bitten (season 2, episode 12)

When Carl (Chandler Riggs) guns down a deranged Shane (Jon Bernthal) to protect his father, the shock arrives when he manifests into a walker despite not being bitten; turns out everyone's infected with the virus and will turn whichever way they die.

The most shocking Walking Dead moments

Axel's bullet to the eye (season 3, episode 10)

A character introduced in the show's prison arc, Axel is a reformed prisoner who strikes up a friendship with Carol - until he's gunned down mid-sentence.

The most shocking Walking Dead moments

Carl kills Lori after she gives birth (season 3, episode 4)

Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies) goes into labour at the very moment a zombie siege breaks out at the prison. Unfortunately, she doesn't make it through the procedure with her son Carl being the one to put a bullet to her head.

The most shocking Walking Dead moments

The Governor slays Hershel (season 4, episode 8)

The Governor makes his dramatic return for a showdown at the prison after he captures Michonne (Danai Gurira) and Hershel (Scott Wilson). Rick reaches out, attempting to reason with him - but The Governor starts a war when he proceeds to decapitate poor old Hershel instead.

The most shocking Walking Dead moments

"Look at the flowers" (season 4, episode 14)

In a standout episode from the show's fourth season, Carol is forced to take drastic measures when young teenager Lizzie murders her sister Mika in the belief that she'll live on as a zombie. Realising Lizzie's depraved mind would endanger those around her, Carol puts a gun to the young girl's head and, telling her to "look at the flowers," pulls the trigger, fighting back the tears.

The most shocking Walking Dead moments

Carl's bullet to the eye (season 6, episode 9)

Season six returned from its mid-season break in typically dramatic fashion when an iconic moment from the graphic novels came to life: Carl takes a bullet to the eye.

The most shocking Walking Dead moments

Beth is killed (season 5, episode 8)

Upon being kidnapped, Beth (Emily Kinney) is taken to Grady Memorial Hospital managed by Atlanta Law Enforcement. Forced to reside there against her will, the group - including Rick and Daryl (Norman Reedus) - eventually find her - only for her to be accidentally shot in the head by her captor. The worst thing? Her sister Maggie (Lauren Cohan) had just arrived outside.

The most shocking Walking Dead moments

Negan kills Abraham

Season seven opened in brutal form as we discovered it was Abraham (Michael Cudlitz) at the opposite end of Negan's baseball bat. "Suck my nuts," the soldier growls as the Saviours' leader brings Lucille raining down on his head until nothing remains but a pulpy mess.

The most shocking Walking Dead moments

Negan kills Glenn

Negan decides to punish the group once more after getting clocked round the face by Daryl. Without expectation, he thwacks Lucille round the head of poor Glenn. With his eyeball popping out of his head, he manages: "I'll find you, Maggie before Negan proceeds to finish the job ending the former pizza delivery boy's life.

Comicbook.com reports that the character - a former zookeeper - appears in scenes that will comprise the third episode of the upcoming season. Featuring also is Shiva who will reportedly be depicted using a mix of CGI and animatronics.

A Walking Dead season 7 trailer is expected to debut at this year's San Diego Comic-Con taking place in July; whether it will contain any hints as to who suffered new antagonist Negan's fatal blow remains to be seen.

The Walking Dead will resume on Fox this October.

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