With the recent trailer for The Walking Dead’s upcoming ninth season having impressed many, now comes word on a big-name addition to the genre juggernaut.

As per The Wrap, Samantha Morton is set to play Alpha in the new season of the show. For those of you familiar with the comic-book Walking Dead, you’ll know Alpha to be a big, big deal. For those of you who haven’t read the funny books, the character is the leader of the nefarious Whisperers; a group who wear walker skin in order to fly under the radar of the shuffling hordes of the undead. The group also make uber-villain Negan look like a pussycat. Well, initially…

Additionally, Nadia Hiker has landed the role of Magna, “a tough as nails survivor who has been living on the road,” while there are also new additions in the form of Eleanor Matsuura, Zach McGowen, Rhys Coiro, Brett Butler, John Finn, and Dan Fogler.

The Walking Dead returns on October 7th.