How Did ‘Sullivan’s Crossing’ Write Off Sully After Scott Patterson’s Shocking Exit?

The season 4 premiere of Sullivan’s Crossing wasted no time addressing Scott Patterson‘s shocking exit as Sully.

During the Monday, April 20, episode of the CW series, Maggie (Morgan Kohan) noted that Sully “just left” and said she didn’t want to “let things slide” at the outpost while he is “on vacation” in Ireland.

“I think I am just feeling overwhelmed with him leaving like that,” she told Cal (Chad Michael Murray). “It all took me by surprise.”

There was also a conversation between Frank (Tom Jackson) and Edna (Andrea Menard) where they spoke about Sully flying overseas. In the main credits sequence, Patterson’s name was noticeably missing after he was originally a main cast member on the show.

Before the season 4 premiere, Us Weekly broke the news in March that Patterson, 67, would not be reprising his role as Sully.

“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,” Sullivan’s Crossing executive producer and showrunner Roma Roth exclusively told Us. “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 hinted at what caused his surprising departure, writing via Instagram, “The creative differences were becoming untenable and I just sadly realized that the show was not something that I could agree to continue.”

Patterson clarified it wasn’t his choice to leave Sullivan’s Crossing.

“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, recently weighed in on the surprise shakeup.

“There are various, different things that transpire. You just never know,” Murray said of Patterson’s departure in an April interview with Yahoo Canada. “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 was 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.”

Sullivan’s Crossing is currently streaming on Netflix. Season 4 airs Mondays on The CW at 8 p.m. ET.