The Walking Dead season 9: What to expect, according to the showrunner

'The world itself will be very, very different'

*Season 8 finale spoilers ahead*

The Walking Dead season 8 concluded in thrilling fashion last night as Rick and Negan threw down in a field, the former slashing the latter's throat but choosing not to let him die, instead damning him to "rot in a cell", until the end of his days, presumably.

With Negan now out of action in terms of bludgeoning people to death, season 8 (and its key antagonist) is now very up in the air.

Asked by EW what to expect in season 9, showrunner Scott Gimple said: "The show evolves.… They’re facing different problems, They’re facing different problems with each other. And the world itself will be very, very different.”

​Gimple will be moving over to a chief content officer role across both The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead now, with current writer and co-executive producer Angela Kang set to take over as TWD showrunner.

A ninth season has already been renewed and is set to premiere late 2018.

As for whether Maggie, Jesus, and Daryl are now in a civil war plot against Rick for keeping Negan alive, Gimple added:

“It looks like that to me. Lauren [Cohan] is so amazing in that scene. She’s full Maggie Corleone. And Jesus, you know, he would not have killed the surrendering Saviors, but he’s not Morgan. Like, he could kill Negan. That certainly isn’t off the menu for Jesus.”

Read our review of the season 8 finale here.