'The Walking Dead' Teases Andrew Lincoln's Final Episodes in Season 9 Trailer

AMC’s latest “Walking Dead” Season 9 trailer comes with a clear-cut message to fans: Rick Grimes’ days are numbered.

Andrew Lincoln’s character Rick has been a focal point of the hit zombie drama since its inaugural episode, but the actor’s run on the series is reportedly coming to an end. The network is playing up Lincoln’s apparent departure with another round of Season 9 promos and once again highlighting the tension between his character and Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s beloved villain, Negan.

The trailer (above) opens in Negan’s jail cell and centers around a protracted debate between him and Rick about whether the survivors will ever be able to live together in harmony. Negan believes Rick’s plan for a peaceful coexistence is naïve, and he isn’t shy about saying so. “When it finally goes to [shit], and it will, make sure you come back and you tell me all about that day, too,” Morgan’s character tells him.

If the debate sounds familiar to Stern Show fans, it may be because it’s similar to one Jeffrey Dean Morgan had with Howard on-air in April when the two explored the similarities between Rick and Negan’s characters. The King of All Media made a case for how Negan could be perceived as the show’s definitive villain, but his guest argued Rick’s actions could be seen as just as bad. Check out their conversation (below) and listen to the full interview here.