The Walking Dead has a habit of telegraphing its punches when stars secure additional gigs outside of AMC, immediately placing targets on their character’s back. Corey Hawkins’ exit offered a surprising subversion, but stars and producers now weigh in on Sasha’s future, given Sonequa Martin-Green’s new Star Trek: Discovery role.

You’re warned of some potential Walking Dead spoilers from here on out, but Sasha fans were understandably dismayed by Martin-Green’s casting as the new Star Trek: Discovery lead, given the difficulty of filming both CBS’ new sci-fi flagship and the AMC horror drama. Corey Hawkins’ Heath was given a notably ambiguous exit to work on 24: Legacy, but even with Season 7 production over and Star Trek going before cameras this week, outlook for Sasha isn’t great.

Entertainment Weekly had a chance to speak with both Martin-Green and showrunner Scott Gimple on the matter, neither of which provided conclusive answers. That said, where the future Star Trek star would only offer that Season 7B would feel “as impactful and powerful and dynamic as it always has been,” Gimple clearly seemed to imply a balance of schedules was possible:

Sonequa Martin-Green can do anything. I’ve seen her battle a horde of walkers this year while simultaneously battling a stomach flu that would have had most people crying in the dirt. She can fulfill the duties of a Lieutenant Commander on a Constitution-class starship whilst battling walkers, Saviors, and whatever gets in Sasha’s way. We’ve had to juggle before. I will certainly juggle for Star Trek any day of the week. Okay, maybe not on Sunday.

Sasha herself has no comic counterpart with which to gauge a possible demise, though producers have grafted a number of character traits from the books onto Martin-Green’s role. At the moment, Sasha’s position most clearly resembles that of Andrea (younger, and still living in the books), though some have also drawn comparison to Abraham’s lover Holly (largely ignored in the show), who winds up as one of Negan’s walker ploys.

The writing may well be on the wall for Sasha, but should Walking Dead and Star Trek instead hope to shuttle Sonequa Martin-Green back and forth from Atlanta to Toronto?

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