Chad Michael Murray is reacting to costar Scott Patterson’s shocking Sullivan’s Crossing exit.
“There are various, different things that transpire. You just never know,” Murray, 44, said of Patterson’s recent departure in an interview with Yahoo Canada published on Sunday, March 22. “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.”
The CW series, based on the Robyn Carr novel of the same name, follows Maggie Sullivan (Morgan Kohan) as she reunites with her estranged father Sully, played by Patterson, while returning to her hometown in rural Nova Scotia. Murray stars as newcomer Cal Jones. Murray explained that despite Patterson’s exit, his character’s presence is still 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.”
Scott Patterson Breaks His Silence on Shocking ‘Sullivan’s Crossing’ Exit
Us Weekly previously reported that Patterson, 67, officially exited Sullivan’s Crossing ahead of season 4. Executive producer and showrunner Roma Roth exclusively told Us that the next season would pick up immediately after Sully left for a trip to Ireland with his girlfriend.
“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 explained. “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’s exit was a surprise to fans, as the actor consistently praised his time on the drama.
“It’s always exciting to go to a new place with a new project [and] with new expectations. Everybody’s lovely. The work is deep and the collaboration is real. You’ve got a built-in audience with [Gilmore Girls] and now we’ve got Robyn Carr’s book audience,” Patterson exclusively told Us in October 2023. “So it’s kind of exciting to come into something that’s kind of established — has already an established fan base — and I can bring mine in. They can join forces and watch the show together and compare notes.”
Why Was Scott Patterson Written Out of ‘Sullivan’s Crossing’? Exit Explained
Patterson also gushed about being able to collaborate with the writers about his character.
“I have a lot more freedom to create the role. I have a lot more input with what [Sully] says and what he does. I just love that about the show. I love that about the producers and the network and all the support they give. And [executive producer] Roma Roth is a very, very special showrunner,” he shared. “She really, really trusts her actors and she really listens. She just wants the best for the episode.”
He continued, “She wants the best for the scene [and] she wants the best for the show. To me, that is the sign of a true leader. So we follow her lead, but she’s open to suggestions, which makes this so much stronger.”
