The Walking Dead: Negan kill scene is making people cry and swear a lot

The new season's opening scene is rumoured to be the show's most disturbing yet

The knowledge that the hugely-anticipated opening scene of The Walking Dead season seven now exists probably has the capability of sending diehard fans all a-quiver.

Well, this news may make it all the more excruciating: apparently, several of the show's directors have been shown the scene which reveals the identity of the character new antagonist Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) beats to death in the closing moments of season six - and they are coming away extremely disturbed.

“Some of the incoming directors, when they come in, they read all the scripts,” revealed executive producer and the episode's director Greg Nicotero to Comicbook.com.

“As the cuts are available, we want them to see because we want them to get a flavour for what we’re doing visually. A couple of people have seen it and then they stand next to me for about 24 hours going, ‘Fuck!’ And I’m like, ‘What?'”

To describe the reaction of those who have seen Negan beat one of the series' characters to death, Nicotero had no words; instead, he impersonated a shudder.

"It's pretty amazing, I'll tell ya," he continued. "People cry which makes me happy and sad at the exact same time."

Don't go expecting a reprieve when The Walking Dead returns to FOX this October. In the interim, fans can look forward to a brand new trailer which is set to drop during the zombie drama's panel at San Diego Comic-Con this Friday (22 July).