Another character from the "Walking Dead" comics is set to join the AMC series for its upcoming ninth season: Ryan Hurst has just been cast to play Beta.

TheWrap has the scoop that Hurst will be joining the long-running zombie drama in a recurring guest role. As his name implies, Beta is second in command to Alpha (Samantha Morton), the leader of The Whisperers, yet another rival community that joins the All Out War in which Rick Grimes (soon-to-depart star Andrew Lincoln) and co. are engaged.

Hurst previously starred on FX motorcycle gang series "Sons of Anarchy," playing Opie. He recently appeared on Amazon series "Bosch," and starred in beloved football flick "Remember the Titans" back in 2001.

The actor joins other previously announced guest stars for season nine, including Morton and Lauren Ridloff. Ridloff, a Tony-nominated deaf actress, is set to play the show's first deaf character, Connie, who also featured in the "Walking Dead" comics.

All these new characters may not help distract fans, however, from two huge upcoming departures: Lincoln and Lauren Cohan. While it's still unclear how their characters will be written off, we have a feeling that curious fans who may have previously abandoned the show will be tuning in to see how everything shakes out.

Season nine of "The Walking Dead" hits AMC on October 7.

[via: TheWrap]