Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer Is Ending After Season 5, but Its Planned Spin-Off Could Be Overlooking the Perfect Character

Netflix’s popular legal thriller The Lincoln Lawyer is preparing to say goodbye after five seasons, but the streaming giant is already developing a new series set in the same world.

While the prospect of a spin-off offers some consolation, the choice of lead character has raised an interesting question: Is Netflix overlooking one of the original show’s strongest performers?

According to an August 2026 report from Deadline, the proposed series will center on Artemisia “Emi” Finch, played by Cobie Smulders. However, there is a compelling argument that Neve Campbell’s Maggie McPherson would make a stronger lead.

What We Know About The Lincoln Lawyer Spin-Off

The Lincoln Lawyer, starring Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Los Angeles defense attorney Mickey Haller, has built its success around complicated legal cases, personal relationships and unpredictable courtroom battles.

Although Netflix reportedly decided that Season 5 would conclude the main series, a spin-off focusing on Emi Finch is already in development.

Introduced during the Season 4 finale, Emi is an original character created for the television adaptation rather than someone drawn from Michael Connelly’s novels.

Her relationship with Mickey is expected to become a major part of the fifth season, potentially laying the groundwork for her own story.

However, the proposed spin-off remains in development, and its long-term direction has yet to be established.

Why Neve Campbell’s Maggie McPherson Deserves Her Own Series

Maggie has been an important part of The Lincoln Lawyer since its beginning.

As Mickey’s former wife and a deputy district attorney, she offers a perspective that differs considerably from his work as a defense lawyer.

Her intelligence, professional determination and complicated personal life provide plenty of material for a standalone legal drama.

Campbell’s performance has also been one of the show’s strengths, bringing confidence and emotional depth to a character balancing demanding legal responsibilities with motherhood.

A Maggie-centered series could explore high-stakes prosecutions, ethical conflicts and the personal consequences of working within the justice system.

Her role also creates natural opportunities for Mickey to return occasionally, particularly because the former couple share a daughter, Hayley, played by Krista Warner.

Unlike a newly introduced character, Maggie already has an established history that could support further storytelling without requiring audiences to build a connection from scratch.

Could Netflix Be Missing a Better Opportunity?

Emi Finch may ultimately prove to be a successful spin-off protagonist, particularly if Season 5 develops her character in unexpected ways.

Nevertheless, choosing her means building a new series around someone viewers have only recently encountered.

Maggie, by comparison, already possesses the professional background, personal conflicts and recognizable relationships needed to sustain a compelling legal thriller.

Campbell’s experience in projects such as Scream, Party of Five and Twisted Metal further strengthens the argument that she could comfortably lead her own show.

A spin-off centered on a prosecutor could also provide a fresh perspective on the same legal world that made The Lincoln Lawyer successful.

For now, Netflix’s planned Emi Finch project remains the reported direction for the franchise.

But as Mickey Haller’s story approaches its conclusion, Maggie McPherson stands out as a character whose own journey could be far from over.