'The Walking Dead' season finale spoilers, plot news: Showrunner says fans should expect more casualties

Since its beginning, "The Walking Dead" has shown that any of its characters is fair game, and season 7 reminded viewers of that, with Glenn (Steven Yeun) and Abraham (Michael Culditz) killed on its first episode. Showrunner Scott Gimple warned viewers that the body count will not end yet, saying that there will be more casualties in the season finale of the show.

"There are losses," he said in an interview with TVLine.

One of the characters fans are speculating will not make it to season 8 is Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green), as she will be playing the lead role in "Star Trek: Discovery." This is a likely scenario, given that the character is now on a suicide mission with Rosita (Christian Serratos) to assassinate Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). The actor has kept mum about this, only saying "I can say that the story is as impactful and powerful and dynamic as it always has been, and there's nothing to worry about where that's concerned" in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

Michonne is also a possible casualty. Danai Gurira has been cast as Okoye in "The Black Panther," so scheduling conflicts may lead to her demise in the post-apocalyptic zombie show.

Speculations are suggesting that Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) will finally battle it out with Negan, with both bringing their respective teams coming along to the fight, leading to casualties on both sides. Fan favorites Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Carol (Melissa McBride) may also be unexpected casualties like Glenn, as they will also be joining the fray.

Nonetheless, Gimple said that the season finale will be satisfying for viewers, unlike the cliffhanger they were left with at the end of season 6. "There will be this joyful rebellion," he said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. He added that this experience will allow the characters to "smile again."

Episode 16, the season finale of season 7, is titled "The First Day of the Rest of Your Life." It will air on April 2, Sunday, at 9 p.m. ET on ANC.