Scott Patterson left Sullivan’s Crossing, but is there a chance he could return after a shakeup?
Creator Roma Roth has stepped away as head writer ahead of season 5, according to Deadline. Floyd Kane will take over day-to-day leadership amid Roth’s multiple other projects.
Roth will remain an executive producer on the hit series, which has been renewed by CTV and is still awaiting a pickup by The CW. Filming is set to begin later this summer in Nova Scotia, with Morgan Kohan and Chad Michael Murray returning.
Per Deadline, there are no current plans for Patterson, 67, to return. He was reportedly approached by Roth about possibly reprising his role as Sully before news broke about his exit in season 4.
“Season 3 of Sullivan’s Crossing ended with Sully leaving for Ireland, beginning a new chapter in his life. Season 4 picks up the next day, with Sully still overseas,” Roth shared with Us in March. “While he isn’t physically present in this season, the character remains an important part of the world with the potential to be included in future seasons should that align with the ongoing creative.”
Patterson later shared more insight into what caused his surprising departure, writing via Instagram that same month, “The creative differences were becoming untenable and I just sadly realized that the show was not something that I could agree to continue.”
Patterson hinted at tension behind the scenes.
“It’s unfortunate that it is now being implied that they moved on from me/Sully when the fact is the complete opposite, and those who sadly already have spoken out are also fully aware of this fact, and yet chose to say otherwise,” he continued. “I was not intending to make any statement but the fans of the books and the show deserve to know the truth as I have always been respectful of those who support this industry by watching and loving these characters we are so dang lucky and blessed to portray and bring to life.”
Murray, 44, later weighed in on the surprise shakeup in an April interview with Yahoo Canada.
“There are various, different things that transpire. You just never know,” Murray said of Patterson’s departure. “And so it’s one of those situations where you go, ‘OK well, just look at the show, what is the show? Where does it sit? And how do you hold it up and keep it true to itself?’ And that’s all on the text and the storytelling.”
Murray reassured viewers that Sully’s presence would still be felt.
“There’s no question in my mind that we did that. The show stays totally true to itself, and Sully is still a big part of it,” he continued. “He still exists in this world, and there’s still that relationship. And he built the Crossing, so it’s always going to be there, and that’s kind of the foundation that the show is built on.”
