The Walking Dead trailer teases Andrew Lincoln's final episode as Rick Grimes: 'It feels like a finale in the middle of the season'

Next episode marks the end of an er for long-time fans as Lincoln departs series after nine years

AMC has released a trailer for what will be Rick Grimes’s final ever episode of The Walking Dead.

Andrew Lincoln previously confirmed he was to leave the show during its ninth season and, just last week, the network confirmed his departure was to arrive as early as episode fivewhich will air next week.

*Major spoilers for The Walking Dead episode 4 below*

What does the trailer reveal? Firstly, it tells us that Rick’s going to get himself out of the sticky situation he finds himself in at the end of the latest episode which sees him impaled on a spike surrounded by a horde of walkers.

The brief teaser shows him stumbling around, alone, attempting to find his “family.” One later moment shows him seemingly reunited with his girlfriend, Michonne (Danai Gurira), who tells him: “It’s not over; we don’t die."

It also previews the already confirmed flashbacks which will mark the return of former cast members, namely Jon Bernthal and the late Scott Wilson who return as Shane and Hershel, respectively.

One thing to note is how the moment that shows him surrounded by a mass of corpses could well be a dream sequence, considering one body appears to be the character of Jesus (Tom Payne) who is very much alive and well in the series.

Showrunner Angela Kang told The Hollywood Reporter that the decision to confirm which episode Lincoln will leave in was "in service of the fans who don't want to miss it.

Teasing his final episode, she added: "It feels like a giant season finale dropped in the middle of the season."

Fingers crossed for a happy end four the show’s main character. You can find the five major questions we had after watching the latest episode, titled “The Obliged,” here.

The Walking Dead continues in the US on AMC every Sunday with the simulcast airing in the UK at 2am. The episode is also available to watch on NOW TV ahead of its repeat on FOX at 9pm the following evening