When The Walking Dead makes its long-awaited return this October, the zombie drama's eighth season will unleash "All Out War," according to a new promo image.

RELATED:  Walking Dead’s Season 8 Will Feature New, ‘Satisfying’ Pairings

The season's tagline is adapted directly from executive producer and The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman's arc from the comics, which consisted of Negan (played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan) going to war with the Hilltop, the Kingdom, and of course Rick Grimes' band of protagonists. The real question will be who is left standing when the dust and blood settles, since Steven Ogg -- who plays Simon in the show -- has teased that the beginning of Season 8 will feature what he lovingly refers to as a "thinning of the herd," potentially signaling that even major players are currently living on borrowed time.

walking-dead-all-out-war-banner

The official synopsis for the series' eighth season reads:

Last year, Rick Grimes and his group of survivors were confronted with their deadliest challenge yet. With the comfort of Alexandria, they let their guard down, only to be reminded how brutal the world they live in can be. The introduction of Negan and the Saviors broke our group.

Feeling powerless under Negan's rules and demands, Rick advocated the group play along. But seeing that Negan couldn't be reasoned with, Rick began rallying together other communities affected by the Saviors. And with the support of the Hilltop and Kingdom, they finally have enough fire power to contest the Saviors.

This year, Rick brings "All Out War" to Negan and his forces. The Saviors are larger, better-equipped, and ruthless -- but Rick and the unified communities are fighting for the promise of a brighter future. The battle lines are drawn as they launch into a kinetic, action-packed offensive.

Up until now, survival has been the focus of Rick and our group, but it's not enough. They have to fight to take back their freedom so that they can live. So that they can rebuild. As with any battle, there will be losses. Casualties. But with Rick leading the Alexandrian forces, Maggie leading the Hilltop, and King Ezekiel leading the Kingdom -- Negan and the Saviors' grip on this world may finally be coming to an end.

The Walking Dead returns to AMC for it’s eighth season on Oct. 22. The Walking Dead is a production of Skybound Entertainment starring Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes, Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon, Melissa McBride as Carol Peleteir, Lauren Cohan as Maggie Green and Danai Gurira as Michonne.