Having left The Walking Dead back 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 leading The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2’s cast alongside Jeffrey Dean Morgan, she took a step away during the original show’s ninth season. Cohan made her Walking Dead debut 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 leaving The Walking Dead was a pay dispute, and while this does appear to be a key factor, there is clearly more to the story. On an episode of Collider’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 in Whiskey Cavalier. Here’s what Cohan had to say about her Walking Dead exit:

“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, because I 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, and I knew it was healthy for me to go do something else.”

What Lauren Cohan’s Comments Mean For Her Walking Dead Future

Cohan Seems A Lot Happier With Her Current Walking Dead Role

While Lauren Cohan undoubtedly seemed unhappy before her Walking Dead departure, 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 away and 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 following The Walking Dead season 11’s ending, but she has even taken up directorial duties in Dead City season 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 by The Walking Dead‘s creatives after her return, and Cohan’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 Dead undoubtedly suffered without Lauren Cohan in it, but her 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, but having Lauren Cohan around makes The Walking Dead better. 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.

RT Critics Score
RT Audience Score
IMDB Score

The Walking Dead: Dead City
71%
53%
7.1

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 with The Walking Dead and return three years later, given how important Cohan’s character is to the story.