“I was ready to give up. I thought it was all over.”

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon has introduced a few new key players on its season 3 trailer, including Stephen Merchant’s character.

The spin-off sequel to The Walking Dead sees Daryl, played by Norman Reedus, travelling through France where the virus originated and reuniting with his ride-or-die Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride).

After the season 2 finale aired, the series debuted a first clip from the third season.

stephen merchant the walking dead daryl dixon
AMC

Together, Daryl and Carol roam the streets of London, with an abandoned double-decker bus in the background. It wouldn’t be a surprise if that’s where the pair meet Merchant’s still-unnamed survivor, who carries a rifle on his back at the 00:03 mark in the teaser here.

Speaking about joining the zombie franchise on his Instagram, Merchant said he was “thrilled to be a part of this universe”.

Merchant isn’t the only newcomer to be fighting walkers this time around. In September this year, Eduardo Noriega, Óscar Jaenada, and Alexandra Masangkay were cast as series regulars for season three.

norman reedus, the walking dead daryl dixon season 2

AMC

In another scene of the teaser, Daryl and Carol have a heart-to-heart by the fire, with Daryl saying: “I was ready to give up. I thought it was all over.”

Carol replies: “You and me both.”

Daryl Dixon will offer more than one change of scenery during its upcoming season.

Alongside the London mission, the protagonists are also expected to bask in warmer climates in Spain, where production relocated for at least some of the new episodes.

The Walking Dead aired on AMC in the US and STAR on Disney+ in the UK.