'Walking Dead' season 6 plot spoilers, release news: Fall of Alexandria, Carol, the Wolves, and Negan

Glenn during The Walking Dead season 5 finale, "Conquer"AMC

Season 5 of "The Walking Dead" just aired its finale last March 29, but the rumor mill regarding season 6 has already begun grinding. iDigital Times cites a statement released by showrunner Scott Gimple revealing that season 6 will deviate from the norms that the series has been known for. 

Gimple explained that the previous seasons of "The Walking Dead" focused on human threats, with the shambling zombies as dangerous background noise, but season 6 will change all that. It has been speculated by fans that the walkers that invaded Alexandria during the season 5 finale foreshadows that change. 

CelebDirtyLaundry follows this up with the speculation that season 6 will introduce the villain Negan and his group known as the Saviors. In the comic book source material, Negan and his cohorts eliminate walkers but demand food and weapons, even in areas where their services are not welcome. When the Saviors reach Alexandria, Negan and Rick butt heads and eventually start a war after Negan kills Glenn, who is played by Stephen Yeung in the series. 

All of this may occur during the back eight episodes of season 6, as the first half still needs to deal with the Wolves, a group that fans speculate is modeled after "The Whisperers." 

One thing that has been clear from the start is that season 6 will continue Carol's story arc. She previously left the series during season 4 and made a comeback as a stronger character unafraid to kill and scare children. 

"A lot of people say she's a badass, that she's coming back like Rambo, I don't see it that way. I see her making tactical decisions. She's just Carol doing these things. And I love it," Melissa McBride, who plays Carol in the series, stated during an interview with Forbes. 

Fans of the source material are in the dark when it comes to her character, given that Carol died in the comics while her daughter Sophia lived on and was even adopted by Maggie and Glenn. 

Season 6 of "The Walking Dead" is still far off with no official release date, but fans can expect it to premiere come October.