We round up all the news tied to the big Season 4 finale of The Walking Dead Sunday night:  big ratings, the promotions of three cast members to series regulars, and teasers for Season 5, which will premiere in October. 

The ratings were the best ever for a season finale for the series, 15.7 million viewers, according to Hollywood Reporter.  That blows away last year’s season finale, which drew 12.4 million viewers (see "'Walking Dead,' 'Thrones' Set Records"), by 27%,  and approaches the 16.1 million drawn by the Season 4 premiere (see "No Stopping ‘The Walking Dead'").

The day after the Season 4 finale aired, attention turned to Season 5.  Three actors were promoted to series regulars:  Christan Serratos, who plays Rosita Espinosa (see "'The Walking Dead' Adds New Actors"); Alanna Masterson, who plays Tara, one of the Governor’s followers (see "New 'Walking Dead' Actress"); and Andrew J. West, who was introduced in the Season 4 finale as Gareth, the mysterious boss of the Terminus. 

And because it’s never too early to start promoting the next season, AMC released a clip of the cast and crew talking about what’s next, for Season 5--CAUTION:  THERE ARE SPOILERS IN THE VIDEO!