The Walking Dead season 8: Three main characters reportedly absent from multiple episodes

The zombie series returns to screens this October

Three main characters from AMC series The Walking Dead are expected to be absent from a chunk of season eight.

Reports suggest that actors Christian Serratos, Danai Gurira, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan - Rosita, Michonne and the villainous Negan, respectively - have not been spotted on set for the shoot of multiple episodes.

It seems fans shouldn't start worrying about these characters' fates though - Serratos was pregnant at the time of production while both Gurira and Morgan have been busy shooting films.

Gurira will appear in Marvel's forthcoming Black Panther - as well as Avengers: Infinity War - while the latter is starring opposite Dwayne Johnson and Naomie Harris in Rampage. Morgan was, however, spotted on the set of the season eight premiere - the show's 100th episode - and is said to have been glimpsed back on set for what is expected to be episode six.

It's intriguing to see how his potential absence could factor into the series considering the climax of season seven saw the start of the All-Out-War section between the residents of Alexandria, the Hilltop Colony, the Kingdom and the Saviours.

While these characters may be absent from the early stages of season eight, three others have been promoted to series regular status.

The Walking Dead returns to AMC and FOX this October.