Just hours after a pulsating, corpse-filled Walking Dead Season 3 finale, we have major news on Season 4 of this AMC smash:

David Morrissey will return as The Governor.

The Hollywood Reporter confirms that the British actor, originally announced as appearing on just this past season, will be promoted to series regular when The Walking Dead returns in October.

Last night, his storyline was left open after he gunned down a majority of his army and left with a pair of soldiers.

In the graphic novel, however, the Governor does not survive his climactic showdown with Rick at the prison.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.