The Walking Dead timeline reveal hints at huge plans for series' future

The prequel series is set to overtake the main show for its forthcoming season

The Walking Dead will be overtaken by prequel spinoff series Fear the Walking Dead following the addition of a key character which will see the worlds of both collide for the first time.

The spinoff's timeline has so far been behind that of The Walking Dead's with Rick Grimes and company years ahead of Madison, et al. but that's all set to change once Morgan Jones (Lennie James) jumps shows for the prequel series' fourth season.

The timeline confirmation arrived within the Letter Hacks section of The Walking Dead comic book issue #176 by creator Robert Kirkman who revealed: “This half of season 8 leads directly into Fear the Walking Dead season 4, which will shake that show in a majorly cool way. So make sure you hang around for that.”

Not only does this inject Fear with a renewed excitement but adds a level of intrigue surrounding just how Morgan will switch shows while sealing his character's safety; following the announcement, many presumed Morgan would perish in forthcoming The Walking Dead episodes only to appear again in Fear ahead of his eventual death within both series' timeline.

The announcement confirms the character as a major player in the entire series and - considering we'll have a direct link between both worlds - it's no stretch to assume we could see a bumper mashup series featuring all characters in a matter of years

Basically, it's an exciting time ahead for fans of The Walking Dead who are pre-empting heartbreak in the midseason premiere which will see the death of original character Carl Grimes (Chandler Riggs).

It was revealed last month that writer Angela Kang will take over as showrunner for the newly-confirmed ninth season following Scott Gimple's appointment as overseer of the entire Walking Dead franchise.

The Walking Dead season 8 returns to AMC in the US on 25 February with the UK premiere arriving the next evening on FOX. The episode will also be shown on NOWTV. Fear the Walking Dead season 4 premieres in the US on 15 April - its UK premiere lands on BT TV on 23 April.

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