'Walking Dead': 'Wire' Alum to Play Fan Favorite Tyreese

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Chad Coleman

There's a new hero coming to AMC's The Walking Dead.

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The Wire alum Chad Coleman has been tapped to play fan-favorite character Tyreese in the zombie drama based on the comics created by Robert Kirkman, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

In the Image comics, Tyreese first appeared in the seventh issue, crossing paths with Rick and his group on the highway, with the former sheriff providing food for the former Atlanta Falcons linebacker and his family before joining the fold.

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The character eventually works his way up as Rick's No. 2 following Shane's death and becomes a love interest for both Carol and Michonne.

The character is rumored to make his debut in The Walking Dead's Dec. 2 midseason finale, potentially setting up another major reveal the way the series first introduced Michonne during the second-season finale.

"There are a lot of characters from the comics that we will eventually work into the show -- Tyreese, Abraham, this new character Negan, who is the latest bad guy [in the comics]," showrunner Glen Mazzara told THRin October ahead of the season three premiere. "They all exist in the world of The Walking Dead, and it's just a matter of time before we meet them all."

Coleman's credits also include I Hate My Teenage Daughter, The Good Wife and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. He's repped by Talent Works and Vanguard.

TVOvermind first reported the news.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit