Sonja Sohn dishes on why ‘Will Trent’ Season 4 killed off Amanda Wagner: ‘Once you get the pink slip...’
Sonja Sohn, who played the beloved Amanda Wagner for four seasons of 'Will Trent,' has finally spoken out after her exit. The actress took to social media to express her gratitude and also shed some light on the reasons behind her surprising exit. In a video, the actress suggested that the exit was not her choice. "Once you get the pink slip, it’s just a job. I got a job, like you got a job. It’s just a job. Actors are really low people on the totem pole when it comes down to the big structure. When you get a pink slip, you don’t ask about it. You just say goodbye," she shared. She claimed that the creatives planned the exit, and she had to go with the flow.
Sohn shared that there is definitely more to her exit from the crime drama than people know, but it isn't the right "time to talk about the details." 'The Wire' alum added that she is choosing to be "reserved" about the situation. It is a quality that she has taken from her character in the show. "One of the things I was taught through this experience of being Amanda and of being in this situation is that she’s a much more thoughtful, reserved character than I am. When I engage with characters, we give each other aspects of ourselves," Sohn explained. However, she promised that she will soon have much more to share with her fans.
Sohn’s character, Wagner, was killed off in an episode titled ‘The Blank Expanse of Nothing.’ Wagner was stabbed multiple times while in the pursuit of a mysterious man connected to Adelaide Trevens (Mallory Jansen), and the cult dedicated to a notorious serial killer, James Ulster. The body was discovered by the titular character after he received a call about a "gift" from none other than Trevors. In the following episode, Wagner’s life was honored by her close ones. The episode titled ‘Our Last Dance’ showcased how her absence was being deeply felt by the ensemble. Faith and Will put their all into finding Adelaide so that they can bring their mentor to justice, while multiple characters made emotional tributes to the beloved Chief.
The best one was delivered by her best friend, Evelyn Mitchell (LisaGay Hamilton). "I don’t know what the world looks like without you in it, but I guess I’m going to have to figure that out, right? You took care of everyone all the time. Now it’s our turn to take care of you. We’re going to get it done, girl. This is our last dance,” she said. The episode ends with Will (Ramon Rodriguez) trying to put his emotions about the loss into words, but failing.
Showrunners Liz Heldens, Daniel T. Thomsen, and Karine Rosenthal agree with the sentiment. "Amanda has been the character who has protected Will for as long as she has known him," Rosenthal shared with Variety. "So this gives us the opportunity for a completely new dynamic in the GBI, because her replacement will not have that same relationship with Will." The showrunner added that, along with Will, most of the major players will be "reeling from this enormous loss". The duo is hopeful that the loss will make the premise of the already renewed Season 5 "painful but exciting." They want the death to push the show to new, unexplored territories. The show will return on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
