And it's official! Though only confirmed to be in talks at first, 'The Walking Dead' season 4 has officially cast its first new series regular in 'The Wire' vet Lawrence Gilliard Jr., playing the series regular role of Army medic Bob Stookey. The character had initially been reported to press as "Roy Stark," leading many to believe him an approximation of fan-favorite Abraham Ford, but we told you so! Get the latest on 'The Walking Dead' season 4 inside!

Ah, sweet sweet vindication. Not only has iDigitalTimes' initial report that 'The Wire' star Lawrence Gilliard Jr. would join 'The Walking Dead' season 4 as new series regular "Roy Stark" proven true, but also our own prediction that the character would secretly turn out to be an adaptation of comic book character Bob Stookey!

TVLine confirmed the news of Gilliard's casting today, again circulating the theory that Stookey/Stark's character bore resemblance to fan-favorite former Army man Abraham Ford, though that no longer seems to be the case. AMC's version of Bob Stookey is said to be plagued by his past before and after the zombie apocalypse, keeping to himself mostly, but maintaining a charming, confident and self-deprecating exterior. In the books, Stookey appeared as an older white citizen of Woodbury battling alcoholism, before being tasked to patch up the Governor's horrific wounds from Michonne.

Gilliard joins fellow 'Wire' alum Chad Coleman, who himself has been upgraded to series regular. So far, ‘The Walking Dead’ season 4 has bumped up actors Coleman, Sonequa Martin-Green and Emily Kinney to series regular, while AMC earlier confirmed that David Morrissey’s villainous Governor would also return in season 4 as a series regular.

Well, what say you? Are you excited to have Lawrence Gilliard Jr. confirmed as comic character Bob Stookey? What would you like to see when 'The Walking Dead' season 4 bows in October?

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