Lauren Cohan (Maggie) talks working on The Walking Dead: Dead City

The Walking Dead: Dead City is almost here. The first spinoff following the conclusion of the main series, Dead City follows unlikely duo Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) as they travel to a desolate, zombie-infested Manhattan in search of Maggie’s son Hershel, who has been kidnapped by a mysterious villain known only as the Croat.

The setting of Manhattan, which was one of the epicenter of the zombie virus, is completely new and fresh for the show, a far stretch from the relatively quiet forests of Georgia. Speaking to The New York Post, star Lauren Cohan teased the new surroundings: “It’s a different kind of beauty, empty and desolate. You get the romance of your own relationship with the city,” she said.

New York City is one of the most popular places to destroy onscreen. According to Cohan, Dead City takes inspiration from John Carpenter’s cult 1981 movie Escape From New York. “Being in a city as populated as Manhattan makes for big hordes of walkers that have to be corralled in different ways,” she teased.

Lauren Cohan is an executive producer on The Walking Dead: Dead City

For the first time in her career, Cohan graduated from actor to both actor and executive producer on Dead City, as did her co-star Jeffrey Dean Morgan. For Cohan, the prospect of working behind the camera was a key reason for her wanting to return for the spinoff.

"I was invited to be involved as much as I liked in post-production, which is really where I dive in and get super excited. I love watching editors work. I’ve shadowed directors a number of times. And I love just being involved in the minutiae of every creative decision. You know, how the prop master comes up with a functional but cool weapon that will make people say ‘wow!’ but also that suits the character. I’ve been able to be there and learn and be part of the conversation. It’s just a huge learning curve."

During her 10-season stint on The Walking Dead, Cohan became a central figure on the show, but she affirms that she doesn’t necessarily want to be known as a star. “If there’s a world where I can work, and be part of a team, and never get all the credit and never have all the responsibility, that would be a happy life,” she said.

More seasons of The Walking Dead: Dead City could be on the way

Dead City only has six episodes, which probably isn’t enough to tell a complete story. That number of episodes makes it sound like a one-shot limited series, but if all goes according to plan, it may not be the end.

“We’re definitely set up to go beyond [the first season],” she teased. “The TV landscape is a little different and a little more trepidatious than it used to be. But we’re really hoping the show does well and can lead to a second and third and fourth or fifth season. We feel like we’ve just cracked open the egg — now we should make an omelet.”

The Walking Dead: Dead City premieres June 18 on AMC.

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