Whisperer leader Alpha introduced in 'Walking Dead' teaser

Dec. 22 (UPI) -- AMC has released a 42-second teaser for The Walking Dead showing a member of The Whisperers preparing a facial mask out of dead flesh.

In the clip, a bald woman stitches together the gruesome disguise, which has long, white-blonde hair.

She places the mask over her head. Her blue eyes stare out at the camera and the message, 'TWD Returns 2.10," appears on the screen.

A news release accompanying the first images of the person identify her as The Whisperers leader Alpha, played by Samantha Morton.

"The second half of The Walking Dead Season 9 finds our groups of survivors, both old and new, continuing to deal with the impact of events that took place during the six years that have passed," a synopsis said. "They will soon realize the world just beyond does not operate as they thought. The group's rules and ways of survival no longer guarantee their safety. A whole new threat has crossed their paths, and they soon discover it's unlike any threat they have encountered or endured before."

The first half of Season 9 featured a six-year time jump during which the show's core group of heroes scattered. In the mid-season finale, several of the main characters encountered The Whisperers, whom they mistook to be zombies because they were dressed as the undead. One of these imposters killed Jesus, a beloved leader played by Tom Payne.