Exclusive first season 7 photo and intel revealed 

'The Walking Dead': Ross Marquand on 'insane' season 7 premiere

Extended version of 'Walking Dead' finale to be released on Blu-ray

'The Walking Dead': Go behind the scenes with disgusting zombies

We have your exclusive first peek at season 7 of

, and if it looks a lot like the end of season 6, that is no accident: there is still a bit of unfinished business to be revealed when things pick back up on AMC in October.

What sort of unfinished business? Well, learning the identity of the Negan’s first victim, for one thing. And while the wait for that intel has been

, the producers promise the answer will indeed come in the season premiere. “Yes, who was at the receiving end of Negan’s bat will be revealed in the first episode,” confirms executive producer Greg Nicotero, who directed both the season 6 finale and the season 7 premiere.

And if you thought Negan’s epic speech that closed season 6 was an isolated event, think again. Nicotero teases that Jeffrey Dean Morgan has plenty more rants to come in season 7. “Negan is that kind of guy,” says Nicotero. “He’s the kind of guy who imagines himself on stage at a high school production and he loves every second of it. So, I don’t really see a lot of quiet contemplative moments with Negan. I feel like with Negan it’s really going to be about him gesticulating and him sort of relishing in the sound of his own voice while he commands the stage in front of whoever’s alive.”

news coming your way in the next few days, so follow me on Twitter @DaltonRoss to have it sent directly to you. In the meantime, enjoy your first season 7 look at Negan and make sure to also vote for your favorite episode, villain, weapon, location, and more in our ultimate

\'HarmonQuest\' creator Dan Harmon talks bringing D&D to life

\'Mr. Robot\' star took over our Snapchat for the season 2 premiere

\'Pokémon Go\': Hillary Clinton hosting campaign event at Pokestop

Box office preview: \'Ghostbusters\' set to slime \'Secret Life of Pets\'

J.K. Rowling\'s \'Fantastic Beasts 2\' will take story in \'new direction\'

WATCH: Bryan Cranston talks \'out on a limb\' acting style

Pokémon GO Alamo Drafthouse PSA features \'Seven\' clip

Emmy Nominations 2016: 35 Facts About the New Class

\'Suicide Squad\': Before They Were Stars

\'Legally Blonde\' costume designer Sophie de Rakoff on Elle\'s \'signature color\'

This Is What the 1996 Emmy Awards Looked Like