USA Renews "Suits" for 8th Season

[JamesG]

"Suits" Renewed for Season 8 without Patrick J. Adams & Meghan Markle, Ups Dulé Hill & Gets 7B Premiere Date
by Nellie Andreeva
January 30, 2018


USA Network has given a Season 8 renewal to its long-running drama series "Suits". The network also officially confirmed the exits of original cast members Patrick J. Adams and Meghan Markle after the end of Season 7.

Returning for Season 8 are fellow original cast members Gabriel Macht (Harvey Specter), Sarah Rafferty (Donna Paulsen) and Rick Hoffman (Louis Litt), joined by Dulé Hill (Alex Williams), who has been promoted to a series regular after recurring this season.

“After seven seasons, Suits remains one of USA Network’s most beloved and popular series,” said USA president Chris McCumber. “While we’re excited for Season 8, everyone at USA will deeply miss Patrick and Meghan, and are grateful for the talent and commitment they brought to Suits season after season. We wish each of them nothing but the very best.”





The remainder of Season 7 will premiere March 28, culminating in a two-hour season finale on Wednesday, April 25 – an arc in which "Suits" will bid farewell to characters Mike Ross (Adams) and Rachel Zane (Markle).

Harvey must deal with the aftermath of Jessica (Torres) losing her license, while trying to process how the kiss with Donna will affect his relationship with Paula (Christina Cole). Mike tries to juggle his commitment to the firm, his passion for pro bono work, and his engagement to Rachel. All the while, Louis struggles with right and wrong as his torrid affair with Sheila (Rachael Harris) deepens.



The arc, which also includes the planted "Suits" spin-off pilot starring Gina Torres in the season finale, is expected to feature the long-awaited Mike and Rachel wedding just a couple of weeks before Markle’s real-life nuptials to Prince Harry.

While Adams is departing as a series regular, that does not necessarily mean that we we will never again see Mike Ross on the show, which has featured original cast member Gina Torres as Jessica in multiple guest-starring stints since her exit.







Series creator Aaron Korsh provided some clues about where the show will go next season.

“Season 8 will have everything from shifting alliances and internal power plays, to secrets, betrayals and fiery relationships,” he said. “Keep an eye out for an adversarial new character that will give Harvey a run for his money.”

That will be a new series regular "Suits" will introduce in Season 8, Korsh confirmed to Deadline.





There are no current plans for Torres’ character Jessica to make appearances in Season 8 as a decision is pending on the the planted spin-off.

“I am eagerly awaiting the news of a pickup, and I’m optimistic it would happen,” Korsh told Deadline. “Because of that we are not focusing on Jessica being a significant part of season 8, I assume she will be involved in the spin-off.”

As for potential crossovers between the two series down the road, “it would be Suits characters visiting the spin-off,” Korsh suggested.





"Suits" started off as a buddy show centered on Harvey and Mike. While it has since evolved into a legal ensemble, “we’ll replace the bromance and mentor-mentee (elements) in a comprehensive approach,” Korsh said.

He suggested that Harvey and Alex as well as Harvey and Louis would pick up some of the slack in the bromance department, while admitting that there is no obvious character right now to take on a mentee role.





Reflecting on Adams and Merkle’s journey on the show, “I would like to thank Patrick and Meghan for their extraordinary contributions over the last seven years,” Korsh said.

“Not only have they been outstanding in their roles as Mike and Rachel, they are also superb human beings who will always be beloved members of the Suits family, and we wish them well in their days to come.”

http://deadline.com/2018/01/suits-re...rk-1202273844/

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