MICHONNE’S exit has been a major talking point ahead the The Walking Dead’s return next month.
The AMC zombie drama will soon kick off part 2 of season 10 and the next string of episodes will be Michonne’s (Danai Gurira) last.
With that in mind, fans have been coming forward with all manner of theories about how the femme fatale will leave the show, be it dead or alive.
Initially some feared she would be betrayed by newcomer Virgil, who sailed off with Michonne in a deal that saw him trade safe passage for weapons.
With Michonne separated from the allied communities she’s certainly more vulnerable than ever, but the latest trailer suggests that instead The Whisperers could be the ones to take her out.
The clip includes snippets from a plethora of battles, but there’s one moment in particular that could spell disaster.
Alpha’s (Samantha Morton) right hand man, Beta (Ryan Hurst), is seen lumbering around a crumbling house and drawing his machete.
Clearly ready for combat, his face is twisted into a grimace as she stalks his prey.
A few seconds later the shot cuts to a panicked looking Michonne, and judging by the lighting and backdrop, it looks like she’s in the very same house on the outskirts of Alexandria.
Given that both Michonne and Beta have proved their martial skills, such a clash would no doubt be deadly, at least for one of them.
most read in tv and showbiz
Could she be the martyr that brings the allied communities in a joint assault against The Whisperers?
Michonne isn’t the only character fans are worried about – Maggie Rhee’s (Lauren Cohan) return has also sparked concern.
Maggie left the show enraged about the mercy shown to the nefarious Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan).
Negan infamously beat Maggie’s partner Glenn (Steven Yeun) to death with a baseball bat in one of the show’s most brutal scenes to date.
Maggie vowed to kill Negan in return and was distraught when Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) instead decided to incarcerate him after defeating The Saviours.
Consumed with grief, fans watched as her previously sunny disposition faded and she took on a more authoritative, colder persona to lead Hilltop.
She sentenced Gregory (Xander Berkeley) to death after a botched assassination attempt, despite the pleas of Jesus (Tom Payne), proving she wasn’t to be messed with.
However, if Maggie takes up her feud with Negan when she makes her return, she risks endangering the lives of her old friends.
After fleeing Alexandria, Negan infiltrated The Whisperers and managed to gain the trust of Alpha (Samantha Morton).
In the Robert Kirkman comics upon which the show is based, this culminates in him betraying the masked faction and decapitating Alpha.
As such, if Maggie intervenes, she risks handing victory to The Whisperers, who are currently on top having lured the likes of Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Carol (Melissa McBride) into an underground trap.
The Walking Dead will air on FOX in the UK on February 24 and be available to stream on NOW TV.