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The much-loved series Sullivan’s Crossing has returned with its eagerly awaited Season 4 on The CW. However, those who have followed the beloved small-town drama, inspired by Robyn Carr’s bestselling novels, will notice significant changes in the cast lineup this season.
For viewers needing a recap, Season 3 of Sullivan’s Crossing concluded with an intense cliffhanger. A character named Liam, portrayed by Marcus Rosner, appeared at the Crossing, claiming to be the husband of Maggie, played by Morgan Kohan. Simultaneously, Maggie’s father, Sully, played by Scott Patterson, was getting ready to leave the town. As the new season unfolds, audiences will become more familiar with Liam’s character, but they might be caught off guard by the news of Patterson’s actual departure from the show during the hiatus.
The premiere of Season 4 frequently references Sully’s exit from the Crossing. The Season 3 finale provided clarity on how the series planned to address his absence. If you’re curious about how Sully was written out of the storyline or seeking insights into Scott Patterson’s real-life exit from the show, we have the details you need.
Questions abound regarding Scott Patterson’s departure from Sullivan’s Crossing. How did the series handle Sully’s character exit in the Season 3 finale? What have Patterson, his fellow cast members, and the show’s creator said about his leaving? Is there a possibility of Patterson, or his character Sully, making a comeback in future episodes? Here’s what you need to know about Patterson’s exit and Sully’s absence in the current season.
Why Did Scott Patterson Leave Sullivan’s Crossing?
Scott Patterson, who played the integral role of Sully Sullivan since the inception of Sullivan’s Crossing in Season 1, left fans in disbelief with the casting changes. So, why did he decide to leave? Before hearing from his co-stars and the series’ creator, Patterson himself addressed his departure on Instagram on March 5, citing “creative differences” as the primary reason for his decision to step away from the show.
“Every actor knows what it’s like to fall in love with a character and a story. I fell in love with Sully and have nothing but fondness for him. The creative differences were becoming untenable and I just sadly realized that the show was not something that I could agree to continue,” Patterson wrote alongside a photo of him as Sully. As the actor continued to address his departure, he called out unnamed folks associated with the series and disputed implications that the show chose to move on without him.
“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,” Patterson wrote. “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. I really enjoyed Sully and fought for his voice and his character. The richness and depth of Sully, whom the fans of the books all know and love, is so multi-layered and interesting. The fans deserved better than to think the embodiment of this character, me, would just disrespect not only the show, but them. In the end, we’re all fans of these characters and stories, and I’ll always support and defend the truth.”
On March 5, Deadline also cited sources that claimed, “Patterson, concerned with the direction of his character, asked to be released from his contract after Season 3, a wish that was granted.”
The day prior to Patterson’s post, Sullivan’s Crossing executive producer/showrunner Roma Roth issued a statement to Us Weekly, which said, “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. While he isn’t physically present in this season, the character remains an important part of the world…”
On March 22, Sullivan’s Crossing stars Kohan and Chad Michael Murry spoke on Patterson’s departure in an interview with Yahoo Canada and echoed Roth’s statement.
“[Maggie’s whole world at the beginning of the season is not what she anticipated. She’s just kind of settled in with Cal… and then it’s really thrust on her that now, you’re taking over the Crossing, and you are fully involved, while the rest of your life is kind of thrown up in the air again. … And part of her support system is now gone too,” Kohan said. “The show stays totally true to itself, and Sully is still a big part of it. … 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,” Murray added.
Why Did Sully Leave Sullivan’s Crossing? How Sullivan’s Crossing Wrote Sully Off The Show:
So how did Sullivan’s Crossing explain Sully’s departure in the show? Season 3 saw Sully finding unexpected romance with Helen Culver (Kate Vernon), and in the finale, he made a major decision to take a leap of faith, leave the Crossing, and travel to Ireland with her.
“It’s time for me to finally let myself go in a new direction,” Sully told Maggie. When she asked, “What about the Crossing?” he assured her, “I love the Crossing, Maggie. Going to Ireland with Helen isn’t gonna change that.” So as Roth noted, when Sullivan’s Crossing Season 4 picks up a day after Season 3’s finale, Sully will already have left the Crossing and begun his new chapter off-screen.
Is Sully Gone For Good? Is Scott Patterson Returning To Sullivan’s Crossing One Day?
As is typically the case with any character departure that doesn’t end in death, Sullivan’s Crossing fans will likely be wondering if Sully and Patterson are gone for good or they could return to the Crossing in the future.
Based on the tone of Patterson’s Instagram post, it sounds like he may have closed the door on the show for good. But he did express serious love for the character and show, and in Roth’s statement to Us Weekly, she noted “…potential [for Sully] to be included in future seasons should that align with the ongoing creative.” A day after Roth’s statement, however, Deadline reported, “I hear Patterson was approached by Roth about a possible Season 5 return, should the show get renewed. A formal offer never came, with Roth instead blindsiding the actor by issuing the statement yesterday.” So we’ll have to wait and see what the future holds.
Perhaps there’s still hope for Patterson’s return down the line, so never say never! But manage your Sully Season 4 expectations accordingly, and instead of Patterson, prepare to see Maggie and Cal dealing with Liam’s arrival and managing the Crossing in Sully’s absence with Edna (Andrea Menard), Frank (Tom Jackson), Lola (Amalia Williamson), Sydney (Lindura), Rob (Reid Price), and more returning characters.
New episodes of Sullivan’s Crossing Season 4 premiere Mondays on The CW.