Bye bye, Michonne.

Early reports on The Walking Dead Season 10 stated that Danai Gurira, who’s played the beloved Michonne since the finale of Season 2, would depart the series at some point during the year. Sadly, Gurira herself confirmed that news today at Comic-Con. She told the fans assembled at The Walking Dead panel:

“I can confirm this is the last season I’ll be on this amazing TV show as Michonne ... I would just like to say this has been one of the purest joys in my life. I am very very thankful for the experience I’ve had in ways that I cant even express right now. My heart does not leave… it doesn’t ever end, the connection between us never ends.

Calling it a “very difficult decision,” Gurira follows Andrew Lincoln, the original Walking Dead series lead, who left the show in its ninth season (in part to make Walking Dead movies — more on that in a second).

Also revealed at the panel was the new official trailer for The Walking Dead Season 10:

Also also revealed at the panel: A still-untitled Walking Dead movie (remember when we mentioned that a minute ago?) is coming to theaters in the near future, featuring the return of Lincoln’s Rick Grimes. If you thought these things would premiere on AMC alongside the Walking Dead series ... you were wrong.

That’s a ton of Walking Dead news to digest before the tenth season premieres in October.

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