Why Neve Campbell Isn’t Returning For The Lincoln Lawyer Season 3

WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for The Lincoln Lawyer S2 and Michael Connelly’s books The Gods of Guilt & The Law of Innocence!

Netflix renewed The Lincoln Lawyer season 3 after much anticipation, but the announcement came with disappointing news that star Neve Campbell will not be returning. After the cliffhanger ending of The Lincoln Lawyer season 2, Netflix is bringing back the Manuel Garcia-Rulfo legal drama series for another batch of 10 episodes. Alongside Mickey’s Garcia-Rulfo, actors such as Lorna’s Becki Newton, Izzy’s Jazz Raycole, Cisco’s Angus Sampson, and Andrea Freeman’s Yaya DaCosta will be reprising their roles in season 3’s cast. Notably missing from The Lincoln Lawyer season 3, however, is Neve Campbell as Maggie, Mickey Haller’s ex-wife and love interest.

Though it is disappointing, Neve Campbell’s absence from The Lincoln Lawyer season 3 isn’t particularly surprising. Campbell’s role was reduced in The Lincoln Lawyer’s second season, only appearing in four episodes. Neve Campbell’s character exit in The Lincoln Lawyer season 2 happened after Maggie got a new job in a different city, and she worried that her reconciliation with Mickey wouldn’t last. However, given Maggie’s story in Michael Connelly’s Mickey Haller book series extends past the events serving as the basis of The Lincoln Lawyer season 3, Campbell’s absence doesn’t seem to be permanent.

Neve Campbell’s Character Maggie Isn’t In The Lincoln Lawyer Season 3’s Book

Maggie Leaving The Lincoln Lawyer Means The Show Stays True To The Source Material

The Lincoln Lawyer season 3 will adapt author Michael Connelly’s fifth Mickey Haller book, titled The Gods of Guilt. This was teased in The Lincoln Lawyer season 2’s final moments when Mickey discovered that his former client, Glory Days, was killed, and the new client he must defend is the one suspected of her murder. However, this should have been the biggest clue that Neve Campbell’s exit in The Lincoln Lawyer season 2 also meant that she wouldn’t be returning for season 3.

Despite being an integral part of Mickey’s personal life, prosecutor Maggie McPherson isn’t involved in the events of 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.

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Neve Campbell’s Lincoln Lawyer Departure Could Be Due To Conflicting Projects

Campbell’s Work On Twisted Metal Could Be Behind Maggie’s Exit

Considering The Lincoln Lawyer season 2’s book adaptation took plenty of creative liberties from its source material, the Netflix series could still have found a way to keep Campbell’s character in the upcoming installment’s story. As such, part of the reason why Neve Campbell isn’t in The Lincoln Lawyer season 3 could be that she has conflicting schedules with other projects.

Campbell notably starred in Peacock’s 2023 Twisted Metal TV show adaptation, which was confirmed for its season 2 renewal in 2023. Of course, missing The Lincoln Lawyer season 3 may lead to speculation that Neve Campbell could return for Scream 7, which is expected to be released in 2024. After playing Final Girl Sidney Prescott in the first five films of the 1996-debuting horror franchise, Campbell declined to return for 2023’s Scream 6 after contract disputes.

It’s possible that the actress could still return to Scream 7 if she’s given fair compensation by Paramount, which could then conflict with The Lincoln Lawyer. There’s also the possibility that Campbell is missing the Netflix show’s third season because of the desire to take a brief hiatus after Twisted Metal season 1 and The Lincoln Lawyer season 2. However, Campbell herself has yet to confirm the reason for her absence.

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8 Burning Questions The Lincoln Lawyer Season 3 Needs To Answer

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Mickey’s The Lincoln Lawyer Story Means Maggie Has To Return In Season 4

Mickey And Maggie’s Story Isn’t Done In The Lincoln Lawyer

Maggie may not be in The Lincoln Lawyer season 3, but Mickey Haller’s story still warrants her return in future installments. After the events of The Gods of Guilt, Maggie plays a huge role in Michael Connelly’s book The Law of Innocence, which concludes with Mickey and Maggie getting back together for good.

Since the creative team has mapped out a four-season plan already, this would suggest that Maggie will return for The Lincoln Lawyer season 4 to fulfill her book storyline with Mickey. As such, Neve Campbell is expected to prominently return for The Lincoln Lawyer season 4, though she could alternatively still continue to appear in a guest role if the series adapts the future books out of order.

The Lincoln Lawyer

Loosely based on novels by Michael Connelly, The Lincoln Lawyer follows recovering addict and criminal defense attorney Mickey Haller. Working out of the back of his Lincoln Navigator, Mickey takes on legal cases in Los Angeles.

Cast

Manuel Garcia-Rulfo , Neve Campbell , Becki Newton , Angus Sampson , Christopher Gorham

Release Date

May 13, 2022

Network

Netflix

Writers

David E. Kelley