Why Roma Roth is leaving Sullivan’s Crossing just months after Sully star’s dramatic exit

Just months after Scott Patterson dropped out of Sullivan’s Crossing, the series is undergoing another huge shake up as creator Roma Roth will no longer serve as showrunner heading into season five. 

The fourth chapter of the drama – based on Virgin River author Robyn Carr’s novels of the same name – landed on Netflix last week after airing on The CW in April. 

It picks up from the shocking season three cliffhanger, with Maggie (Morgan Kohan) and Cal (Chad Michael Murray) facing issues after Maggie’s ex Liam (Marcus Rosner) showed up. 

Although Sullivan’s Crossing season five has been confirmed by Canada’s CTV, Patterson – who plays Maggie’s father Harry “Sully” Sullivan – was announced to be leaving the show. 

The network suggested it was a creative decision, although the actor hinted at issues behind the scenes (more on this shortly). 

That was back in March, and now, Deadline reports that Roma Roth has stepped down as head writer and showrunner.

Why is Roma Roth leaving Sullivan’s Crossing?

According to Deadline, there’s nothing to suggest there’s drama going on in this situation. Instead, Roth will be focusing on adapting another Robyn Carr novel series for TV: Thunder Point.

Roth will still serve as an executive producer on Sullivan’s Crossing, but the big decisions will now be made by writer and producer Floyd Kane. She will also continue as executive producer on the Netflix hit Virgin River. 

The news comes after rumours of behind-the-scenes tensions, which ramped up after  Patterson’s exit. 

In March, Roth confirmed his departure and shared the following statement with EW: “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 with the potential to be included in future seasons should that align with the ongoing creative.”

But shortly after, Patterson shared his own statement on Instagram, suggesting there were issues and saying he wasn’t happy with how the news had been framed. 

Scott Patterson said he couldn’t ‘agree to continue’

“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,” he wrote. 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Scott Gordon Patterson (@scottgordonpatterson) 

“The creative differences were becoming untenable and I just sadly realised 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.”

The actor went on to write that he wasn’t originally going to say anything, but felt that fans of the Sullivan’s Crossing books and show “deserve to know the truth.”

“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,” he continued.  

“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.”

Roth later told The Canadian Press that she was surprised by Patterson’s comments, saying, “The storyline picked up the very next day. And in season 3, Sully goes off with his girlfriend to Ireland. 

“So, I mean, we were focusing on Maggie and Cal. And that’s kind of where we left off, introducing Liam. So, we had to pick up on that storyline and we were in discussions with Scott to come back.”

Morgan Kohan talks Sully’s exit ahead of season 5

Last week, before news of Roth stepping down as showrunner, Maggie star Morgan Kohan spoke to EW about Patterson’s departure. 

“We all knew that it was going to change things and that the audience would definitely have a reaction to that,” she explained. 

“But I really do think no matter what, when there’s going to be such a big change in a show that’s so loved in the way that it is, it does open up so many new opportunities. And I love so many of the characters that we get to bring in this season.

“It shifts things for Maggie. It changes her sense of grounding at the Crossing, too, and who she goes to for guidance. It shakes things up in a nice way.”

Kohan confirmed that the title character won’t be forgotten. “It’s not like [he] was just going to be never acknowledged again because Sully is such a presence,” she added. 

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Featured image credit: CTV/George Pimentel/Shutterstock