"You're going to see a much lighter Rick, because the thrill of the fight is on," Andrew Lincoln (Rick Grimes) told Entertainment Weekly. Showrunner Scott Gimple said that, before the end of the midseason premiere, "you will see Rick Grimes smile." Greg Nicotero, director/producer/special effects guru, added to EW that the 2017 return episode includes a "stupendous" epic action sequence.

Gimple told EW "there's definitely unfinished business" with the Oceanside group that Tara met earlier in Season 7, and they will probably end up joining the other communities to fight the Saviors.

"The Walking Dead" returns February 12 at 9 p.m. on AMC.

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