Lauren Cohan says Maggie is no longer defined by grief and hatred
Summary
– Maggie is changing in The Walking Dead: Dead City season 3 after years of grief over Glenn
– Lauren Cohan said Maggie realizes grief no longer serves her or her son Hershel
– Jeffrey Dean Morgan said Maggie and Negan now understand they need each other to survive
Maggie is entering a new chapter in The Walking Dead: Dead City season 3.
For nearly a decade, Maggie has been shaped by Glenn’s death and her hatred for Negan. That pain followed her through The Walking Dead and into Dead City, where her past with Negan continued to affect her choices.
During the Monte-Carlo Film Festival, Lauren Cohan and Jeffrey Dean Morgan discussed how Maggie and Negan’s relationship is shifting in the new season. The first two episodes of Dead City season 3 premiered at the event, giving fans an early look at the next chapter of their story.
Morgan said Maggie and Negan have carried their anger for a long time, but survival has forced them into a different place.
“We played as much hate as we could over the last 10 years. Now, we have known each other longer than anyone else alive. To survive, they need each other, and that was a big revelation. To see Maggie smile was so nice – haven’t seen it in 10 years!”
“To have scenes that have genuine meaning and depth, it was amazing. We got to see new sides of each other. She didn’t even stab me one time!”
Cohan said Maggie is finally starting to understand that being defined by grief is no longer helping her. That realization began through her son Hershel, who has been affected by the weight Maggie continues to carry.
“This is really the first year when Maggie recognizes that to be defined by grief doesn’t serve her anymore. It started in Season 2 with her son – she knew that something had to change, which was very uncomfortable. There’s something bigger: a bigger purpose.”
“We are these unlikely allies that realize how much they can rely on each other and how much they know each other. The irony of their relationship, with how they met, is interesting.”
Maggie and Negan appeared to find some closure during The Walking Dead series finale, but Dead City season 1 reopened old wounds when Maggie betrayed him. Her anger toward Negan also created distance between her and Hershel.
Season 3 moves Maggie toward real growth. She is still carrying her history, but no longer letting it control every part of her life.
Dead City season 3 will also expand the world around Maggie and Negan. New characters include Dillard, played by Jimmi Simpson, Renata, played by Aimee Garcia, and Luis, played by Raúl Castillo.
Lisa Emery and Željko Ivanek are also returning as the Dama and the Croat. The season will follow Maggie and Negan as they work toward rebuilding post-apocalyptic Manhattan while facing new threats.
New showrunner Seth Hoffman has teased that season 3 will not focus on one central villain. Instead, the story will follow Maggie and Negan’s larger plans for Manhattan and the obstacles they face.
Dead City season 3 will also include an alternate reality episode set in a version of New York City where the zombie apocalypse never happened.
The future of Dead City beyond season 3 has not been confirmed. For now, the next season premieres July 26 on AMC and AMC+.
