Lauren Cohan is eyeing her departure from The Walking Dead.
The actress, who has starred as Maggie since season two of the AMC zombie drama, has booked a lead role in ABC drama pilot Whiskey Cavalier.
Cohan has emerged as one of the most in-demand actresses this pilot season. Sources tell THR that she had been actively looking for her next role as she battles AMC over her season nine salary. With Walking Dead already renewed for a ninth season, Cohan does not have a deal in place to return to the AMC series. Sources say Cohan and her agents are not happy with the offers that have been on the table from AMC. Although Cohan is not seeking salary parity with male leads Andrew Lincoln and Norman Reedus, her camp and AMC have been engaged in a months-long negotiation that remains far apart. Insiders suggest that Cohan was actively looking for her next job and not trying to use the pilot casting process to force AMC’s hand as the actress’ camp remains frustrated by AMC’s lowball offers. Other sources note AMC has made “aggressive offers” to re-sign Cohan for season nine.
The situation could play out in one of three ways: Cohan leaves The Walking Dead after season eight; Cohan re-signs to return for season nine as a regular; Whiskey Cavalier moves forward and Cohan either returns for a handful of episodes or walks away from the franchise entirely; or the pilot doesn’t go to series and Cohan opts to leave or return in either a full-time or limited capacity. AMC declined comment.
(Excerpt) Read More in: The Hollywood Reporter