Major Spoiler Alert:  We have already had a glimpse of "The Governor," the hugely anticipated character from Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead comic book series who will be Rick’s primary antagonist in Season 3 of the AMC series, but the Gov could be just one of many obstacles (see "'The Walking Dead's' Governor Revealed").  The latest secret to slip out is a big "reveal" and it might tie in to the whole Governor saga, though it is certainly not clear how.  Do not read further unless you can handle the event that has been whispered about, but now can be confirmed.

 

Set photos from the current production of the third season of The Walking Dead (via Starburst Magazine) clearly show actor Michael Rooker, who plays the extremely racist Merle Dixon, the brother of the survivalist Daryl Dixon.  Merle had to cut off his hand to escape from the walkers, and hasn’t been seen in the series since.  There were rumors that he would be back in season three and in the new set photo he is clearly visible with a new artificial arm in a truck identical to one seen in the previously released photo of The Governor, a white SUV with an array of lights on the top.  The vehicular similarity raises the question, what is the relationship between Merle and The Governor, and how will it play out in season three?

 

Here’s another shot of Rooker, who is much easier to recognize in this medium shot and is looking a lot friendlier than he ever does on screen as he hands an autograph to a visitor to the set.