UPDATE: It is now being reported by TV Line that Lauren Cohan is now once again in active negotiations with AMC for renew her contract for season nine and beyond, and has made no indication that she plans on leaving the show.
If rumours are to be believed, The Walking Dead may be about to lose one of its longest-running survivors, with Deadline reporting that Lauren Cohan – who plays Maggie Rhee on the hit AMC drama – has rejected a new contract and is currently fielding offers for new TV pilot projects.
Apparently, Cohan – who first joined the series in its second season – was said to have been seeking parity with her male co-stars Andrew Lincoln and Norman Reedus, but was only offered a modest pay increase for a long-term contract, which was rejected.
This is of course standard tactics during contract renegotiations, but Deadline’s report claims that AMC did not follow up the rejection with an improved offer, and there has been no further talks between the two parties. With the actress contractually free to explore other opportunities, it is said that she is in hot demand, and has been taking pilot meetings with multiple networks.
SEE ALSO: Watch a new trailer for The Walking Dead’s midseason return
The Walking Dead is set to return from its midseason break when the second half of season eight gets underway on February 25th. Meanwhile, the series will welcome a new showrunner for its ninth season as long time TWD writer Angela Kang replaces Scott M. Gimple, who is moving over to a new position as Chief Content Officer on the companion series Fear the Walking Dead
