Will Maggie die in The Walking Dead Season 8 and is she still pregnant?

MAGGIE Rhee was forced to watch as her husband was brutally murdered by series villain Negan but it seems she may be set for a gruesome death herself.

With an on-going contract dispute, here's why fans should be worried about the last surviving member of the Greene family...

Is Maggie still pregnant on The Walking Dead?

Whilst Maggie's pregnancy has hardly been a focal point thus far in season eight, the character is very much still expecting her first child with her late husband, Glenn.

The character first announced her pregnancy in the first half of season 6 yet showrunner Scott Gimple bluntly told Entertainment Weekly back in September that fans "shouldn't" be expecting Maggie to give birth in season eight.

However, with the on-going rumours that the character is set to leave the show, that could all be about to change.

Will she die in Season 8?

Fans are convinced that Maggie will be the next character to suffer a grisly end after it emerged that the star's contract is set to run out after this season.

If show bosses do decide to kill off Maggie, they could do so in childbirth as they did with Lori Grimes giving birth to baby Judith.

If Maggie does die, it would make her the third high-profile departure from the show this season after Morgan left to join crossover show Fear the Walking Dead and Carl Grimes suffered a fatal bite on the mid-season finale.

Scott Gimple admitted negotiations with the actress were still ongoing but stated that he was hopeful of a conclusion soon.

He told TVLine: "These things do happen in TV," he said of the possibility that Maggie might have to be written out. But we're talking."

What is the issue with her returning?

Currently, Lauren Cohan does not have a contract in place to return to the horror series.

The actress is actively battling show-runners AMC over her salary for season nine which has been confirmed to be happening.

Sources say the star is unhappy with the offers put on the table, with her camp seeking a deal more-in-line with her male co-stars Andrew Lincoln and Norman Reedus. 

In the meantime, Lauren has also been booked for the lead role in ABC's police comedy Whiskey Cavalier which suggests that if she does return to The Walking Dead, it's unlikely to be as a series regular.

When will The Walking Dead season eight return?

One thing AMC has confirmed is the second half of season eight will be returning later this month and will feature a naked zombie for the first time.

There will be eight episodes in part B and British fans can watch the premiere on February 26 on Fox UK at 9 pm.