There may have been talks about a Maggie-centric Walking Dead spin-off

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Andrew Lincoln wasn't the only cast-member to depart The Walking Dead this season as Lauren Cohan, who has played Maggie since the show's second season, also called it quits. Cohan wound up taking on a lead role on Whiskey Cavalier, an ABC dramady in which she stars as a CIA operative opposite Scott Foley (Scandal), but the door has been left open for her return to The Walking Dead franchise.

While discussing Whiskey Cavalier during the Television Critics Association's winter press-tour, Lauren Cohan teased that there may have been talks regarding a Walking Dead spin-off centering around Maggie. "There may have been some conversations but everything is so early days ambiguous. Me, as much as anybody, we'll have to see what happens," Cohan said. AMC has made no secret that they're hoping to expand The Walking Dead franchise with spin-offs, movies, mini-series, and other projects, so it's entirely possible that Lauren Cohan could make her return in one of these forms. Even if it does happen, it likely won't be for a while. Cohan's choice to leave the series allegedly had to do with a pay dispute, as she was calling for a salary closer to what her male co-stars were making. How bad did the negotiations get? "I don't even think that it was bad," Cohan said. "It was like, I've done the show for a long time. It was a long time to be in any character and sometimes you just get quiet and listen to your inner-guidance and it's time to multitask." The Walking Dead was recently renewed for a tenth season.

Would you be down for a Maggie-centric Walking Dead project?

Although things may not have worked out in her favour on The Walking Dead, many pilot projects were more than eager to scoop the actress up. Lauren Cohan chose Whiskey Cavalier because it was so different from anything else she'd read. "I had the pick of the litter [of pilot scripts last season] and got to go into a territory that was fun: a light, one-hour fun show that also still has a lot of sentiment and heart," Cohan said. "I've wanted to do comedy for so long and this was the perfect segue because I love action. The character challenges me hugely because she doesn't apologize and she doesn't care." Whiskey Cavalier will debut on ABC on February 24th.