Sullivan's Crossing stars on surprise Scott Patterson exit - Canada News Beep

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‘Now we have an opportunity to tell other stories,’ Murray says of fourth season, which begins airing Sunday on CTV

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Published Mar 29, 2026 • Last updated 7 hours ago • 6 minute read

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Morgan Kohan and Chad Michael Murray star in ‘Sullivan’s Crossing.’ Photo by CTVArticle content

Chad Michael Murray and Morgan Kohan admit that Scott Patterson’s exit from Sullivan’s Crossing wasn’t something they expected. But his departure from the romantic drama, which returned for its fourth season earlier this month, will allow the story to grow in different ways.

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Adapted from the bestselling novels by Virgin River author Robyn Carr, Sullivan’s Crossing follows neurosurgeon Maggie Sullivan (Kohan) after she leaves her life in Boston and moves back to her childhood home in Nova Scotia and reconnects with her estranged father, Harry “Sully” Sullivan (played by Patterson).

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Over the course of the past three seasons, as she forges a new bond with her father working at his Sullivan’s Crossing campground, Maggie has formed a relationship with Cal Jones, another expat who gave up his life in New York City.

But at the end of season 3, Maggie faced another crossroads with the return of her ex-husband Liam (Marcus Rosner) and Sully’s announcement that he was joining his girlfriend, Helen (Kate Vernon), in Ireland.

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Earlier this month, showrunner and executive producer Roma Roth said Sully will remain abroad and that Patterson would not be returning to the series, which airs in Canada on CTV and Crave and in the U.S. on The CW.

Patterson said that he had left the show due to “creative differences” with producers.

Patterson’s exit chance to tell ‘new stories’

Sully’s exit was a blow for fans of the show, which is CTV’s most watched Canadian drama and a hit globally on Netflix.

Speaking to Postmedia in a recent interview, Murray called Patterson one of the “foundational pieces that this world is built on.” But he said that Sully’s absence will allow writers to push Maggie and Cal into new territory — especially with Liam back in the mix.

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“Sully’s there. I want to assure audiences of that. Sully’s always going to be part of the Crossing,” Murray said. “But what’s interesting is now we have an opportunity to tell other stories. New stories. Create new characters. Bring in blank slates to this world.”

Chad Michael Murray, Morgan Kohan and Scott Patterson in ‘Sullivan’s Crossing.’ Photo by Bell Media

Kohan said that Sully’s absence will find Maggie in a position where she’s “trying to find her footing again.”

“What’s interesting is when a character leaves, you’re watching all the other people that were attached to that character and seeing how their lives change and relationships shift. For Maggie … he was such a staple and support and someone to go to. Now that he’s not there in the same capacity, we’re having to watch her when things are a little messy.”

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With Sullivan’s Crossing back for its fourth season airing Sunday nights on CTV, Murray and Kohan spoke about their bond with fans of the series and revealed some of their favourite hidden gems they’ve visited while shooting in Nova Scotia.

Season 3 ended on a cliffhanger with the return of Liam and the departure of Sully. What’s in store for fans in season 4?

Kohan: We’re definitely going to be diving into the Liam-Maggie-Cal dynamic, working through that and trying to figure out what’s going on.

Murray: Look, we’ll be honest. It’s a throuple (laughs). It’s a lot of drama. It’s a love triangle. This is a really big one and it’s a good one.

Fans of Sullivan’s Crossing are so passionate. What are some of the messages you get from viewers?

Murray: Watching it grow from Day 1 to now has been fun. When I first started this show, people would stop me for One Tree Hill and other things. Now, as this show continues to grow and go around the world, people are stopping me on the daily wanting to talk about Sullivan’s Crossing … I adore it. Because when you go to make these adventures in storytelling, your hope is that you can make stories that connect with audiences.

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Morgan Kohan as Maggie Sullivan and Chad Michael Murray as Cal Jones in Sullivan’s Crossing. Photo by CTVI love the theme of reinvention that runs through Sullivan’s Crossing. What resonates with you most about your two characters?

Murray: Everybody can identify with healing. That’s always been my take. Sullivan’s Crossing is a place you go to heal and all these characters are coming from some tragedy … and they come here to heal themselves. It’s really beautiful. Knowing that we’ve all been through situations, myself included, where you identify with healing yourself and becoming the best version of yourself.

Kohan: I like that both of these characters came to the Crossing needing a shakeup in their life and needing something different. A perspective shift. I did that myself this year. I went to England for a couple of months because things were feeling a little the same in my day-to-day life. I wanted to go and expand and see who I am in a different country and what that brings out of me. Maybe I’ve taken a page out of Maggie’s book with that.

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Chad Michael Murray as Cal Jones and Morgan Kohan as Maggie Sullivan in Sullivan’s Crossing. Photo by Jessie Redmond CTV /Jessie RedmondThe show shoots in Nova Scotia. What’s your favourite hidden gem in the province?

Kohan: Weird Harbour Coffee. It’s a really great coffee spot.

Murray: I love the steak bites at Chop … Ask them if they’ll do it Chad style and you won’t regret it.

When you step off the plane as you start to film each new season, what’s that feeling like?

Kohan: There’s a different energy. It’s so beautiful that you can’t help but take a pause to take it all in. I think my first night back in Halifax shooting season 4, I went for dinner and this couple from the Netherlands approached … and they said they came to Halifax because they watch the show … That was so beautiful. People have fallen in love with this city and province.

Murray: As I was walking into season 4 … The whole family got off the plane and all of us let out a sigh. There’s just a peace there and energy there that I can’t quite put my finger on. It’s magical, man. That place has a magical vortex.

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Chad, you’ve played so many memorable characters. Lucas Scott on One Tree Hill and Jake from Freaky Friday, to name a few. Recently Hilary Duff called your character Austin Ames in A Cinderella Story her favourite on-screen love interest. Where does he rank for you?

Murray: He’s up there. That’s definitely in my top few most fun movies I’ve ever done. I had an incredible time making that movie. I can’t say enough good things about Hilary and the cast and what that movie has meant to me as an actor and in my life. I meet so many people who come up and quote Cinderella Story … It’s just a cool experience to be a part of that and have that connection with so many people. What’s interesting about this job is you go and make these movies and you never know if it’s going to be a hit or not … but there’s a bond that gets created through storytelling.

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Robyn Carr is the author of both Sullivan’s Crossing and Virgin River. Might we get a crossover?

Kohan: I would love that … We have actors play different characters on both shows … But I’m game. Virgin’s Crossing? Sullivan’s River?

There are five novels in the Sullivan’s Crossing book series. So we’ll see you back next year with season 5?

Kohan: We all are hoping for that.

Murray: Your mouth to God’s ears. But let’s enjoy season 4 … Get ready to root for people.

Sullivan’s Crossing airs Sunday nights on CTV and streams the next day on Crave.

mdaniell@postmedia.com

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Sullivan’s Crossing stars on surprise Scott Patterson exit

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