Big changes are afoot in The Walking Dead season 9. New showrunner Angela Kang, who is taking over for Scott M. Gimple, who has been promoted to oversee the larger Walking Dead universe at AMC, has revealed some details as to what we can expect when the hit series returns this fall. The network has also revealed a new photo, which showcases Michonne on horseback leading a group of survivors to an unknown destination.

The season 8 finale made it clear that things weren't going to be business as usual when the show came back. There is going to be a pretty significant time jump and new challenges for those who have managed to live this long in the post-apocalyptic zombie wasteland. Angela Kang had detailed some of what the survivors will be facing this season, with the world around them literally crumbling. Here's what she had to say.

"We'll explore what happened as man made objects and structures break down. Infrastructure like roads and bridges are changing and crumbling. And we'll also explore what happens as resources are getting low. There's a fun Western vibe that has emerged. We are going into a period where a lot of the things that we've seen in previous seasons have broken down, so they've got these horses and carriages that are being drawn around instead of cars. Things are lit with oil lamps. People are using different kinds of weaponry. There's a real grittiness to it that I think will be fun and fresh for the viewers."

Andrew Lincoln's Rick Grimes and Lauren Cohan's Maggie Greene are both set to depart at some point during The Walking Dead season 9. Though, AMC doesn't want fans to believe everything they hear, as they're trying to maintain the element of surprise. Norman Reedus' Daryl Dixon is set to take over as the show's new lead, but how exactly we're going to get to that point remains to be seen. Angela Kang also reveals that Rick's vision of various communities working together has in some ways succeeded. However, there are also cracks in it.

"We'll see our group together working in unity in a lot of ways, but you'll also see some changes in the way that they deal with each other. In some ways, you'll see that the vision has succeeded beyond anybody's wildest imagination. But you'll also see the cracks in that."

AMC is bringing The Walking Dead to Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con next weekend and we'll be getting the first trailer for season 9 at that time. While it's sure to raise a lot of questions and leave a lot up in the air, we're sure to get some answers and a better idea of what to expect when the series returns. You can check out the new photo of Michonne from the upcoming season for yourself below. This news comes to us courtesy of Entertainment Weekly.