Will Lauren Cohan’s exit from The Walking Dead definitely mean Maggie’s death?
It’s bad news for The Walking Dead fans, as Lauren Cohan is making her exit for the ABC pilot, Whiskey Cavalier.
After weeks of speculation about Lauren Cohan and The Walking Dead Season 9, fans have finally learned that her character is leaving the series. Cohan has snapped up a lead in ABC’s planned pilot, Whiskey Cavalier, which will also star Scandal‘s Scott Foley. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean Cohan’s character, Maggie, will die.
Of course, it’s very likely! There have been plenty of others before her who have left the show permanently. However, Cohan’s exit isn’t a creative choice on part of the writers and showrunners. The actress’ contract has come to an end and she wants to make a move into another series. It’s understandable, really, and the showrunners had only been “incredibly hopeful” that Cohan would choose to sign on for another year.
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Maggie not being in Season 9 is certainly possible, but will it be through a permanent method? There’s no guarantee that Whiskey Cavalier will get picked up by the network in the end. So far, things are just planned, so it’s possible that The Walking Dead will leave Cohen’s exit in a way that allows her to come back should she wish.
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ABC hasn’t even confirmed that Whiskey Cavalier will be picked up for a full season yet. It’s just one of the suggested pilots so far and we won’t find out until May as to whether it goes through. May would give enough time for Cohan to return to The Walking Dead and her character’s return to be handled effortlessly.
One option is that Maggie’s fate is left open ended. Much like Charmed Season 3 when it looked like any of the three main actresses could leave the show, Maggie could be left with her life on the line. The showrunners could then make a decision either way during the break between seasons.
The showrunners will need to look at how much more of the story is available. AMC has confirmed Season 9 with a new showrunner, Angela Kang. It is possible that Kang has a slightly different view of the future for the series, so will opt to kill Maggie off and create more of a fresh start.
Next: Is Lauren Cohan leaving The Walking Dead
Do you think Maggie will be killed off in The Walking Dead? Could the showrunners leave Maggie’s exit open for Cohan to return in the future? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
The Walking Dead Season 8 returns Feb. 25 on AMC