The Walking Dead: Dead City combines old and new characters as they trade in Virginia for the once bright-lights of New York City’s Manhattan.

The fourth spin-off of the Walking Dead franchise, Dead City sees enemies forced into each other’s path and come together for the greater good.

New York is nothing like the brochures describe it in this apocalyptic future - now practically deserted and split into factions of survivors who all have their own ends to meet.

With Maggie and Negan’s arrival with the mission of tracking down her son, Hershel, the pair need to learn to confront their past in order to have a future.

Here’s the main characters you need to know as you head into the series.

Played By: Lauren Cohan (The Boy, Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice)

Originally introduced in the main series of The Walking Dead, Maggie is kind-hearted but fierce, and very protective of those that she loves.

She’s now the leader of the Hilltop Colony, who have relocated to New York from Virginia.

After the death of her husband, Glenn, in the main series at the hands of Negan, Maggie holds a bitter and potentially deadly resentment against the now-reformed enemy.

But when her son, Hershel, goes missing, she knows she needs to put this aside and ask Negan for help in order to get him back safely.

Played By: Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Supernatural, Watchmen)

When we first met Negan during The Walking Dead, he established himself quickly as one of the signature villains of the entire show.

But over time, he’s softened, and is now living a quiet life in New Babylon, a town on the outskirts of New York, with his wife, Annie, and their son, Joshua.

However, his violent streak is not entirely gone, and when Annie is attacked, his response sets off a chain of events that ruin this peaceful life.

Now the self-imposed ward of a girl named Ginny, his run-in with Maggie gives him a new purpose and the chance to repent for one of his most brutal crimes.

Played By: Gaius Charles (Friday Night Lights, Taken: The TV Series)

A new character into the universe, Perlie is a marshal for the New Babylon Federation, who is tasked with tracking down Negan and bringing him to justice.

Devoted to keeping law and order even amongst the Outbreak, he justifies his sometimes ruthless acts by arguing he was just following orders.

While he is a force to be reckoned with, he has a close attachment to his allies, and like Negan, he has a family he wants to keep safe.

Played By: Željko Ivanek (Madam Secretary, True Blood)

Another new character, The Croat is a Croatian crime lord whose sadistic nature has earned him a bad reputation.

Formerly of The Saviours, which at one point was led by Negan, The Croat now fronts the Bugazi, an antagonistic group of survivors who will do anything to gain the upper hand.

Little is known about his past, apart from the fact he used to be a scientist focusing on alternative energy sources prior to the outbreak.

Played By: Mahina Napoleon (NCIS: Hawai’i)

Young Ginny, formerly part of the New Babylon Federation community, has been so traumatised by the death of her father she is now largely mute.

Taken under the wing of Negan, she’s not made aware that he is responsible for his father’s death, and is looking after her, in part, due to guilt.

Played By: Logan Kim (Ghostbusters: Afterlife)

The son of Maggie and Glenn, Hershel was born after his father’s death, but has grown up with his mother intent on avenging his murder.

By the time we meet him in Dead City, the now-teenager has become rebellious, and has grown tired of living in The Bricks.

However, he has been trained since birth to be a fighter, and after he’s kidnapped, his headstrong nature does both him, and his mother, a favour.

Played By: Jonathan Higginbotham (Shining Vale, The Blacklist)

Tommaso is one of the leaders of the Manhattan Tribespeople, and often uses fear as his force of rule and for getting people to comply.

However, underneath his tough and often violent exterior is a deeply caring man who is struggling with the amount of loss he sees as a result of this new world.

Played By: Karina Ortiz (Orange Is The New Black, The Long Road Home)

Tommaso’s partner and fellow leader of the Manhattan Tribespeople, she is initially hesitant to get involved with Maggie and Negan when they arrive at the group.

Strong, unflinching, and hardened by the cruel world around her, especially the constant threat of the Burazi, Amaia is someone whose trust needs to be earned.

Played By: Lisa Emery (Ozark, Jessica Jones)

Real name unknown, the woman referred to as The Dama is an ally of the Burazi and maintains a sense of authority even when she’s not in one, commanding respect from those around her.