Audiences were left shocked when Cohan announced her departure from the smash hit in 2018, with the actress setting out to star in the action dramedy Whiskey Cavalier after contract negotiations fell through with The Walking Dead producers. She would return to the pop culture phenomenon in time for its 11th and final season, and went on to star opposite Jeffrey Dean Morgan in the spin-off series The Walking Dead: Dead City. Let's explore more about why Cohan left and what became of her character Maggie.
Maggie Greene Was a Fan-Favorite in 'The Walking Dead'
Lauren Cohan became a beloved presence in the groundbreaking zombie apocalypse hit The Walking Dead as the resilient and headstrong Maggie Greene. When the character is first introduced, she (like much of her family) is extremely inexperienced and unaware of how to deal with the ravenous creatures plaguing the land, as the Greenes took shelter at their remote family farm and secluded themselves from society. When Rick and his fellow survivors arrive at the homestead, Maggie finds herself falling in love with the resourceful and earnest Glenn Rhee (Steven Yeun).
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Cohan Sets Her Sights on New Opportunities
After unfathomable trauma and sadness (like the brutal death of her beloved Glenn and the loss of her sister Beth), Maggie has a long-awaited confrontation with the baseball bat-wielding villain Negan, who is locked away in a cell for his murderous actions against the group of survivors. When presented with the opportunity to kill Negan, Maggie realizes he is a broken man and the shell of his former self, prompting her to shockingly spare his life and find some form of closure after the devastating loss of Glenn.
Maggie's final screen appearance (before her triumphant return two years later) is in the season nine episode "What Comes After," which features the character heartbroken after Rick sacrifices himself after blowing up a bridge full of walkers. A six-year time jump in the following seasons reveals that Maggie departed the safe haven Hilltop in order to help assist a new community alongside fellow survivor Georgie and her group, becoming estranged from Michonne and distancing herself from her former friends in Alexandria in the ensuing years.
Maggie's Thrilling Story Is Far From Over
The Walking Dead took its final bow on November 20, 2022, after 11 riveting seasons, with the AMC horror drama sparking a pop culture phenomenon and becoming one of the most popular and celebrated shows in television history. The exhilarating universe continues to expand with exciting spin-offs like Fear the Walking Dead and The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, further cementing the status of the franchise as one of the small screen's most enduring and entertaining.