As we creep closer to the season nine premiere of The Walking Dead, the cast and crew have been providing us with very little information for what’s ahead. Seems fair, as they want to keep alive that “element of surprise.” Although we do not get any spoilers, here is everything we know so far about the new season.

Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) will be leaving the show as confirmed at San Diego Comic-Con in July. Rick’s days are numbered with each coming episode. Showrunner Angela Kang told Entertainment Weekly: “The goal this season was just to pay homage to that character — the character that brought us into the show. Rick Grimes has been somebody that people have loved watching, just loved this character’s journey. He is this man who was looking for his family, and found them, and lost many of them, but has fought on and on. And I think that’s meant a lot to people. And we just really wanted to be respectful of that character and send him off in a great way. So that was the charge for us this season.” Lauren Cohan, who plays Maggie Rhee, will also leave this season even though we cannot pinpoint when exactly that would be.

New boss. New rules. #TWD returns 10/7 at 9/8c. pic.twitter.com/c8pnOQMP0B

— The Walking Dead AMC (@WalkingDead_AMC) October 1, 2018

Jon Bernthal will reprise his role as Shane Walsh – Rick’s partner at the sheriff’s department, his former best friend and later antagonist, and Judith’s real father. We can expect that he will have a part in Rick’s flashbacks. Rick killed Shane back in season two. The scene was tweeted by The Walking Dead account. You can relive it below. 

We are revisiting our favorite Rick moments all the way to the premiere of #TWD on 10/7. Vote for your favorite by using the heart reaction. pic.twitter.com/zhFTbFtc6h

— The Walking Dead AMC (@WalkingDead_AMC) October 2, 2018

Rick Grimes will have his choice of weaponry with a sort of mace-like look to it. Goodbye to Negan’s iconic Lucille bat.

He’s ready for what’s coming. Are you? #TWD returns 10/7. pic.twitter.com/B0iPbgSbVW

— The Walking Dead AMC (@WalkingDead_AMC) September 12, 2018

“A New Beginning” is a self-explanatory title for episode one of the season. Chief Content Creator Scott Gimple is ready to introduce a new story arc. “This is sort of the end of a very long chapter of The Walking Dead,” Gimple told Deadline. “And I don’t mean the past couple years, I mean the first eight years of the show, and that this ends a period of the story that will not be replicated. It is going to turn into, in some ways, a very different show.” The show left season eight with Rick’s members winning the all-out war and Negan summoned to spend the rest of his life in solitary confinement. Rick’s promise is a new civilization and sanctuary for people at peace. While that sounds too good to be true during a zombie apocalypse, that’s what the show intends to do.

There will be a time jump of 18 months that will offer fresh storylines and new characters. Kang is excited to delve into a better development for the show. “We’re playing with time in the season so we get to jump forward in the story. We come in on some pretty fun stuff,” she said.

Executive producer Greg Nicotero said that Season 9 “is kind of morphing back into a Season 4, Season 5 kind of vibe.” There is no doubt that those were the show’s best seasons. Oh, glory days. Fans are ecstatic to hear that the show will return to its roots of suspense, shocking twists, and character developments – which made the series so popular.

As a special treat for the fans, AMC has released the first five minutes of the season opener. You can watch it below.

The first episode will be 90 minutes. Watch the new season on Sunday, October 7 at 9/8 c on AMC.