The Walking Dead's Ross Marquand On Saying Goodbye To Cast Members

Goodbyes are never easy.

For that reason, starting production of the seventh season of The Walking Dead was particularly hard for its cast members.

While we long to know who it is that will no longer be with us going forward, at least one cast member from the AMC series will be bowing out when the latter half of Negan's introduction airs in October. Speaking to Ross Marquand on the subject, ComicBook.com learned just how hard it is when the family is torn apart.

"Whenever people die on our show it's so tough to let go because they are, in a sense, like you pointed out, family," Marquand says. "It's tough to say goodbye, it's tough to move on to a new chapter. I think the one nice thing about this show that I will say that's unusual from other shows I've worked on is that people do a good job of staying in touch."

Of course, there is life after The Walking Dead for the cast members. Several have gone on to find prosperous new roles on other series, some have even returned for flashback episodes, but in all cases, the group stays in touch.

"I remember Gale Anne Hurd, our [executive producer], said on the first day I got to set, she said, 'You're part of the family now and that's forever.' It's true. They do a great job of cultivating this family atmosphere on set. No matter what happens with your character you'll always have a place, not only on the show in the history of the show, but also in the friendships and the collaboration that you forge with these people over the years."

As for which members of The Walking Dead family will no longer be with us, we'll have to endure all of Negan's wrath in Season 7 to find out. Comic book fans know very well that it will be more than just the victim of his eenie-meenie-minie-moe game to bow out in the coming episodes.

The Walking Dead returns for its seventh season on October 23. For complete coverage and insider info, follow @BrandonDavisBD on Twitter.