Shocking Twist: Neve Campbell's Surprising Decision for The Lincoln Lawyer Season 3
Neve Campbell's absence from Season 3 of The Lincoln Lawyer sparks speculation as her character, Maggie, is not present in the book It is believed conflicting projects may have led to her departure, raising questions about Maggie's potential return in Season 4 due to the importance of her role in Mickey's story
WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for The Lincoln Lawyer S2 and Michael Connelly's books The Gods of Guilt & The Law of Innocence!
Summary
Neve Campbell will not reprise her role as Maggie in The Lincoln Lawyer season 3, but her character's storyline extends beyond the upcoming season, indicating that her absence is not permanent.
Maggie's character, portrayed by Neve Campbell, is not featured in The Gods of Guilt, the book on which season 3 is based. This logical connection justifies her absence from the season.
Neve Campbell's absence from The Lincoln Lawyer season 3 may be attributed to conflicting schedules with other projects. However, fans can anticipate her return in season 4 to continue her character's storyline from the book.
Netflix has finally announced the renewal of The Lincoln Lawyer season 3 after much suspense, but unfortunately, star Neve Campbell will not be making a comeback. Following the thrilling conclusion of The Lincoln Lawyer season 2, Netflix is bringing back the legal drama series featuring Manuel Garcia-Rulfo for another captivating set of 10 episodes. Joining Garcia-Rulfo are returning actors Becki Newton as Lorna, Jazz Raycole as Izzy, Angus Sampson as Cisco, and Yaya DaCosta as Andrea Freeman. Notable in her absence, however, is Neve Campbell, who portrays Maggie, the ex-wife and love interest of the lead character, Mickey Haller.
Neve Campbell's Character Maggie Isn't In The Lincoln Lawyer Season 3's Book
Neve Campbell’s absence from The Lincoln Lawyer season 3 may disappoint fans, but it is not entirely unexpected. Despite having a significant role in the first season, Campbell's character only made a brief appearance in four episodes of the second season before leaving abruptly. Her departure was attributed to Maggie finding a new job in another city and harboring doubts about the longevity of her relationship with Mickey. However, since Maggie's story continues in Michael Connelly's Mickey Haller book series beyond the events depicted in The Lincoln Lawyer season 3, it appears that Campbell's absence may not be permanent.
The Lincoln Lawyer season 3, now confirmed by Netflix, will be based on the fifth Mickey Haller novel by author Michael Connelly, titled The Gods of Guilt. This exciting development was hinted at in the final moments of The Lincoln Lawyer season 2, where Mickey learns about the unfortunate demise of his former client Glory Days, while also discovering that his new client is the prime suspect in her murder. However, fans should have taken this as a clear indication that Neve Campbell, who played prosecutor Maggie McPherson, would not be returning for season 3. Although a significant part of Mickey's personal life, McPherson does not play a role in The Gods of Guilt.
Without Maggie playing a significant role in the book that The Lincoln Lawyer season 3 is based on, Campbell's absence makes sense. The novel begins by revealing that Mickey's daughter Hayley has cut him off after one of his clients killed a girl her age in a drunk driving incident, with Maggie being fairly removed from these events. The Gods of Guilt's story largely involves Mickey defending his new client Andre/Julian Lacosse while uncovering connections between Glory Days' death and corruption in the DEA and LAPD. With Maggie now serving as a prosecutor in San Diego, Neve Campbell's character has no involvement in Mickey's next case. However, Netflix is leaving open the door for Campbell and Maggie's return in future seasons.
Neve Campbell's Lincoln Lawyer Departure Could Be Due To Conflicting Projects
The absence of Campbell's character in The Lincoln Lawyer season 3 can be attributed to Maggie, who does not play a significant role in the book it is based on. The novel opens with the revelation that Mickey's daughter Hayley has severed ties with him due to a drunk driving incident involving one of his clients and the death of a girl her age. Maggie remains somewhat distant from these events. In The Gods of Guilt, Mickey takes on the defense of his new client Andre/Julian Lacosse while uncovering links between Glory Days' demise and corruption within the DEA and LAPD. Given Maggie's current role as a prosecutor in San Diego, it is logical that Neve Campbell's character would not be involved in Mickey's upcoming case. However, Netflix maintains the possibility of Campbell and Maggie returning in future seasons.
Neve Campbell's Lincoln Lawyer Departure Could Be Due To Conflicting Projects
Due to the considerable creative liberties taken by The Lincoln Lawyer season 2's book adaptation, it might have been possible for the Netflix series to find a way to incorporate Campbell's character into the next installment. One potential reason for Neve Campbell's absence in The Lincoln Lawyer season 3 could be her conflicting schedule with other projects. Campbell notably played a role in Peacock's 2023 Twisted Metal TV show adaptation, although a season 2 renewal has not yet been confirmed for the streaming platform. While Campbell's future roles have not yet been announced, her role as an executive producer for the upcoming documentary Swan Song could potentially clash with The Lincoln Lawyer.
Of course, not seeing The Lincoln Lawyer season 3 might spark speculation about a potential return of Neve Campbell for Scream 7, slated for release in 2024. Campbell, known for her portrayal of Final Girl Sidney Prescott in the first five films of the horror franchise that debuted in 1996, opted out of Scream 6 in 2023 due to contractual disagreements. While it is possible that Campbell could still make a comeback in Scream 7 if offered fair compensation by Paramount, this could potentially clash with The Lincoln Lawyer. Another possibility for Campbell's absence in the third season of the Netflix show is her decision to take a short break after starring in Twisted Metal season 1 and The Lincoln Lawyer season 2. However, Campbell herself has yet to confirm the reason behind her non-appearance.
Mickey's The Lincoln Lawyer Story Means Maggie Has To Return In Season 4
While Maggie may not appear in The Lincoln Lawyer season 3, the continuation of Mickey Haller's story calls for her return in upcoming installments. After the events depicted in The Gods of Guilt, Maggie plays a significant role in Michael Connelly's novel, The Law of Innocence. In this book, Mickey and Maggie ultimately reunite and solidify their relationship. Considering the fact that the creative team has already planned out a four-season arc, it is likely that Maggie will make a comeback in The Lincoln Lawyer season 4, in order to align with the storyline in the book. Thus, Neve Campbell is expected to have a prominent role in The Lincoln Lawyer season 4, and if the show decides to adapt the future books in a different order, she may still make guest appearances.
