• “The Walking Dead” season 10 is receiving an additional six episodes in early 2021.
  • Insider is told the episodes will not impact the show’s 11th season.
  • These will just be new, “extra” live-action episodes.
  • Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.

Even more episodes of “The Walking Dead” are on the way than we thought. In addition to the season 10 finale in October, six more episodes of the AMC zombie drama are coming next year.

During a virtual panel for San Diego Comic-Con, showrunner Angela Kang announced six “extra” episodes of season 10 will air in early 2021.

“We will not be airing season 11 episodes this year as we normally would in October, but we’re excited to announce an extended season 10 and there will be six extra episodes to follow the finale,” said Kang.

That brings the season 10 episode count to 22. (Typically, the show runs for 16 episodes.)

angela kang season 11

Foto: Angela Kang tells fans they're working on some special extra episodes of season 10. Khary Payton, who plays Ezekiel, looked like this was the first time he was hearing this news. Source: AMC

What does that mean? Will we get a shorter episode run for season 11?

No.

An AMC representative confirmed to Insider these will new, extra, live-action episodes will have no impact on episode count for season 11. Nothing will replace the show's season 10 finale. These additional episodes will just extend season 10.

During "TWD" panel, Kang said the writer's room has been working remotely on season 11 for the past few months. These new additional season 10 episodes will be a way to keep fans fed as they await the show's return.

What will these episodes comprise of?

We're not completely sure. AMC, Kang, and "TWD" universe chief content officer Scott Gimple didn't elaborate on it any more during Friday's panels. Kang simply said they're working on the episodes now and they'll have "more to share" soon.

Foto: Can we give Lauren Cohan her due and learn what Maggie's been up to this entire time? Source: Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

If new footage is filmed for the extended season, it's difficult to imagine we'd see large groups of the ensemble cast together.

One possibility is that we could see more contained story lines surrounding a minimal amount of cast. If these episodes are contained within season 10, it could be an opportunity to do deeper character dives and provide backstory to where some other favorites have been all season. There's certainly no shortage of characters they could pluck from.

Some ideas:

  • Connie has been missing for most of season 10 after a cave-in. Wouldn't it be great to see the season from her perspective? What challenges has she been facing on her own in order to survive? Has she run into other survivors?
  • Where has Maggie been since leaving the Hilltop on season nine. Show her journey.
  • What about the Oceanside community? We barely saw Sydney Park's Cyndie this season.
  • Give us an episode from the POV of Stephanie and her community.

Let me know what you'd like to see on these six extra episodes of season 10 @KirstenAcuna on Twitter. You can follow along with our "Walking Dead" coverage here.