Having leftThe Walking Deadback in 2018, Lauren Cohan returned three years later, and the actress has given a detailed explanation about her departure. Although she is once again a major part of the zombie universe, with Cohan’s character leadingThe Walking Dead: Dead Cityseason 2’s castalongside Jeffrey Dean Morgan, she took a step away during the original show’s ninth season. Cohan made herWalking Deaddebut back in 2011, and despite being a series regular, she opted to take a break from the role, with the actress providing a thorough breakdown of her decision.
It was initially reported that Cohan’s reasoning for leavingThe Walking Deadwas a pay dispute, and while this does appear to be a key factor, there is clearly more to the story. On an episode ofCollider’s Ladies Night,Cohan talked in depth about the frustrations she felt prior to her exit, having given so much to the show. She opened up about how it was the right time to explore new challenges, which eventually led to her securing a leading role inWhiskey Cavalier. Here’s what Cohan had to say about herWalking Deadexit:
“It’s weird because there’s sometimes ways I let things slide or I’ll laugh along with something, even now, and I’m like, ‘Why’d you do that? That wasn’t cool.’ It’s not even that I don’t wanna rock the boat, it’s just I don’t want to fucking give it the time of day. I think a lot of the time it’s picking your battles in moments that are not consequential. But for some reason, I was not afraid and not uncomfortable in that at all, becauseI knew what I had given to the show,and I was at a point where I was like, ‘This is absurd.’ And I left. My contract was up, and I think everybody just said, ‘Oh, no, it’s fine. She’ll come back, or she’ll stay or whatever.’ And I thought, ‘No. I’m going to go and see what happens.’”
“When I left the show, because we were at an impasse,I got 13 offers to lead my own show. And I don’t say that to gloat, I just say that because it gave me faith. There will always be undulations in popularity or reasons that you do and don’t get jobs, and I experience that all the time. But it was a great moment because I went and I met so many amazing creators and producers and writers that I was so excited to go do stuff with, and I felt so invigorated. It was twofold, too, because I knew I’d done the show for a long time, andI knew it was healthy for me to godo something else.”
While Lauren Cohan undoubtedly seemed unhappy before herWalking Deaddeparture, things have changed drastically since 2018. Having tried out fresh opportunities and worked with other great creators,it seems as though Cohan got what she was looking for during her time awayand is now more than content with playing the character once again. She was determined to bet on herself and further her profile, allowing her to return to the zombie universe with fresh energy and a new mindset, where she has much more creative control.
Not only has Cohan been given her own spinoff show followingThe Walking Deadseason 11’s ending, but she has even taken up directorial duties inDead Cityseason 2, suggesting she is more involved in the franchise than ever. Her quote about being at an impasse hints that she was genuinely unhappy, potentially with a number of things. However, it seems like she feels much more valued byThe Walking Dead’s creatives after her return, andCohan’s freedom outside the franchise makes her much more likely to remain involved for years to come.
Our Take On Lauren Cohan’s Reason For Leaving The Walking Dead
Seeking New Challenges Made Perfect Sense For Cohan After Spending So Much Time Playing Maggie
The Walking Deadundoubtedly suffered without Lauren Cohan in it, buther reasons for leaving are completely understandable. Andrew Lincoln had already announced his departure, and Chandler Riggs' Carl Grimes had been killed off in the previous season. This made Maggie an even more valuable part of the franchise, and if her deal didn’t quite reflect that, it’s no surprise that her desire to explore other opportunities increased.
Her time away may have been short overall, but it gave her a chance to work with new people while reinforcing her importance to the series. Seasons 9 and 10 were still pretty strong even without Maggie, buthaving Lauren Cohan around makesThe Walking Deadbetter. Given she landed a lead role almost immediately after leaving, it’s hard to question her choice to step down from such a prominent role, and no one can blame her for seeking fresh opportunities.
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Ultimately, exiting when she did felt like the right move for her career at the time, but I’m also glad she managed to settle her differences withThe Walking Deadand return three years later, given how important Cohan’s character is to the story.
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The Walking Dead is a television series that premiered on Jun 14, 2025. It follows Sheriff’s deputy Rick Grimes, who awakens from a coma to find a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies. He embarks on a journey to locate his family, encountering various survivors amidst the chaos.
A spin-off/sequel of the dramatic horror series, The Walking Dead: Dead City follows two significant characters from the main series - Maggie and Negan.
