"The Walking Dead" season 6 introduced several new characters wearing special body armor and it was speculated by many that these are residents of a community referenced in the comic books as "The Kingdom." A report from Comic Book reveals that The Kingdom will likely be introduced in season 7, along with its leader and his pet tiger.
The report points out that the official The Walking Dead Instagram account first posted a photo of King Ezekiel and his pet tiger, Shiva, to commemorate National Pet Day. The caption below the photo read "Don't worry, 'Walking Dead' fans. You'll get to meet Ezekiel and Shiva next season."
However, the post was immediately deleted and then replaced with a similar post, one bearing the same photo but now with a different caption that simply celebrated National Pet Day, with no further mention of "The Walking Dead" season 7 and what fans can expect to see when the show premieres this October.
Given how residents of The Kingdom were already introduced and with both Jesus (Tom Payne) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) already on the show it would come as no surprise that Ezekiel and Shiva would be making their debut as well.
According to a report from Cinema Blend, the fact that the post was deleted and replaced might mean that the initial post was an honest mistake but it also could mean that season 7 will indeed be introducing the duo. In the original comic books, The Kingdom is the community that aids Alexandria and The Hilltop Colony to wage a war against Negan.
Comic Book points out that the studios are trying to bring Shiva to the show although the difficulties of working with a live tiger on television or the budget required to do the animal in pure CGI may limit what the studios can do. However, the report states that the studios are hoping to get enough footage to showcase during this year's San Diego Comic-Con.
