Scott Patterson Shares His Reasons for Departing ‘Sullivan’s Crossing’ After Three Seasons

Scott Patterson Exits Sullivan’s Crossing Ahead of Season 4

Fans of the popular Canadian series Sullivan’s Crossing will be surprised to learn that Scott Patterson, one of its three main stars, will not appear in the upcoming fourth season. His absence explains the lack of his presence in the recently released promotional materials, including key art, trailers, and credits. The season is set to debut on The CW on April 20, followed by its availability on Netflix in the U.S., where the first three seasons have garnered significant attention.

Patterson, who portrayed the titular character, Sully, addressed his exit in a statement to fans, emphasizing that the decision was his own. “I fell in love with Sully and have nothing but fondness for him,” he stated. “The creative differences were becoming untenable and I just sadly realized that the show was not something that I could agree to continue.”

His comments follow a statement from Sullivan’s Crossing executive producer and showrunner Roma Roth, who explained the storyline: “Season 3 ended with Sully leaving for Ireland, beginning a new chapter in his life. Season 4 picks up the next day, with Sully still overseas.” In the narrative, Sully’s departure was framed as a temporary trip to support his new girlfriend, Helen Culver (Kate Vernon), not as a permanent exit from the series.

While Patterson’s character will not be physically present this season, Roth noted that Sully remains an integral part of the show’s universe and could potentially return in future installments, depending on ongoing creative discussions.

Patterson took issue with the portrayal of his exit as a creative decision. “It’s unfortunate that it is now being implied that they moved on from me/Sully when the fact is the complete opposite,” he remarked. He added that there are those aware of the situation but have chosen to misrepresent it.

“I really enjoyed Sully and fought for his voice and his character,” he said. “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.”

Season 4 promotes a new dynamic between remaining cast members Chad Michael Murray and Morgan Kohan, as evidenced by the absence of Sully’s name from the official logline, which further complicates the narrative for fans accustomed to the earlier seasons featuring him prominently alongside Murray and Kohan.

According to The CW, the new season centers on Maggie Sullivan (Kohan) as she navigates a career shift and a renewed commitment to Cal (Murray). However, the arrival of her ex-husband, Liam (Marcus Rosner), introduces a shocking revelation that disrupts this new path and forces Cal to reconsider Maggie’s ability to move on from her past.

Sullivan’s Crossing’s fourth season will premiere on its original Canadian network, CTV, on March 22.

Here is Patterson’s full statement:

“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. 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. 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.”