Lauren Cohan will return to "The Walking Dead" for season 9
Lauren Cohan has confirmed that she will be returning to reprise her role as Maggie in "The Walking Dead". The actress was speaking at CinemaCon where she was promoting her new movie "Mile 22" with Mark Wahlberg and Ronda Rousey. Cohan was involved in a contract dispute with AMC, the show's production house, over her demand for a better salary - leading to her signing on with ABC for the upcoming show "Whiskey Cavalier".
"I'm going back," Cohan said, speaking to EW. "There's a lot more Maggie story to tell."
(Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for CinemaCon)
Her demand for better pay was supported by fellow "Walking Dead" actor Khary Payton on Instagram with the caption "Pay the Woman". Presently, Cohan's male co-stars Andrew Lincoln and Norman Reedus both make more than her. Earlier this year, Lincoln had revealed to the Independent that it was very likely Cohan would return for the ninth season.
"Lauren is a good friend and wonderful actress," Lincoln said. "What she has created with the role of Maggie has had an enormous impact on the world of The Walking Dead. I would be surprised if Maggie Rhee wasn’t leading from the front as she always has done next season."
The writers of the hit series, which is now entering its ninth season, would be looking to wrap up Maggie's story in the new season after leaving it on a cliffhanger at the end of the last season. It is yet to be announced whether the actress will be returning as a series regular or a recurring character. With the future of "Whiskey Cavalier", in which Cohan stars opposite Scott Foley, still uncertain and "Walking Dead" starting shooting next week, it is possible that the actress might be able to shoot a whole season for the hit zombie show.
The series is expected to return by the end of this year with Cohan teasing that while she is not allowed to reveal details about the show, the new season will definitely be worth the watch.