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USA Network Welcomes Katherine Heigl to 'Suits' Following Meghan Markle's Departure
03 February 2018
(Mike Coppola/WireImage)
The USA Network announced Wednesday that actress Katherine Heigl will be joining the cast of Suits for the legal drama's eighth season.
Now that Meghan Markle landed the permanent role as a member of the royal family with her engagement to Prince Harry in November, she's hung up her suit for good on the set of the network's highest rated TV show.
Heigl, however, won't be filling Markle's pumps.
<p style="">According to <a href="https://www.thewrap.com/katherine-heigl-joins-suits-season-8/" target="_blank">The Wrap</a>, the <em></em> <em>Knocked Up</em> (2007) and <em>27 Dresses</em> (2008) actress "will be playing a new character named Samantha Wheeler, described as "a talented new partner at Pearson Specter Litt who challenges the status quo and will either become the firm's greatest ally … or most powerful enemy."<br></p><p style="">Heigl, who is a Primetime Emmy Award winner for her outstanding supporting actress performance as Izzie Stevens on ABC's <em>Grey's Anatomy,</em> was excited to share her news.</p><blockquote><em>Joining 'Suits' was the perfect organic way to not only collaborate with an EP I admire deeply, but to also become part of a show and cast that I am an immense fan of. I have watched 'Suits' from the very beginning and feel incredibly lucky to be the newest member of the Pearson Specter Litt family.</em></blockquote><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="d8225" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="HUHZCA1531240117"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="959114738029486080" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">I JUST GOT LITT UP!!! For anyone who doesn’t know what that means... start binging #Suits ASAP!! I could not be mor… https://t.co/g9NelgGxge</div> — Katherine Heigl (@Katherine Heigl)<a href="https://twitter.com/KatieHeigl/statuses/959114738029486080">1517505747.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p style="">A character like Wheeler sounds like just what the legal drama needs to sustain the tension that drives it. And with the addition of the new character, Heigl will breathe new life into the show following Markle's exit.</p><p><div data-conversation-spotlight=""></div></p><p style=""><strong>Patrick Adams, an original member of the show since the beginning on June 23, 2011, will also be departing after the show's seventh season to spend more time with his family. </strong></p><p style="">The network issued a statement, saying, "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 <em>Suits</em> season after season. We wish each of them nothing but the very best."</p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="55517" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="E5Z2I11531240117"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="958505108479897600" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">At the end of this season, we bid farewell to Mike Ross. Thank you @halfadams for being the ultimate Suitor. https://t.co/xsRam5h5Hv</div> — Suits (@Suits)<a href="https://twitter.com/Suits_USA/statuses/958505108479897600">1517360400.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p style="">Heigl will star alongside Gabriel Macht, Sarah Rafferty, Rick Hoffman, and Dulé Hill, who was promoted to series regular. But the seventh season has yet to finish out its run with Mike Ross (Adams) and Rachel Zane (Markle). </p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="5fd87" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="DIZYQB1531240118"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="958519367204970496" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Season 8 here we come!! Thankful @Suits_USA 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾. Congrats @halfadams & #MeghanMarkle!! A heck of a run!! Blessin… https://t.co/fDHEkrM6o5</div> — Dulé Hill (@Dulé Hill)<a href="https://twitter.com/DuleHill/statuses/958519367204970496">1517363800.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p style="">The second half of the show's current season will return after its hiatus on March 28.</p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="900f8" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="77PPJH1531240118"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="958442679939067904" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Suits is coming back for an eighth season but without Meghan Markle and Patrick J. Adams. https://t.co/zPJU1xLRj7 https://t.co/gvyids3FmG</div> — E! News (@E! News)<a href="https://twitter.com/enews/statuses/958442679939067904">1517345516.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p style="">Series creator Aaron Korsch is a fan of Heigl's work, and he shared his enthusiasm for her coming on board to shake things up as an antagonist.</p><blockquote><em>On behalf of the entire 'Suits' team, I am extraordinarily excited to welcome Katherine Heigl into our family – I have always been a big fan of her work and was delighted to discover she was an avid 'Suits' fan herself.</em></blockquote><p style=""><strong>The show is already on its way to acquiring new viewers.</strong></p><p class="media-headline " style="">
<strong><br></strong></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="7cf8a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="WD8MQ51531240118"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="959447370021863424" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@Suits_USA @KatieHeigl I’ll watch it now. 🤙🏾</div> — BlackRussian 🤼♂️ (@BlackRussian 🤼♂️)<a href="https://twitter.com/Handurdealt/statuses/959447370021863424">1517585053.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p style=""><strong>This is good news. Case closed.</strong></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="fba48" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="HNJIF31531240118"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="959459612641648640" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@Suits_USA @KatieHeigl #LittUp with excitement!!! https://t.co/4SzUMDdybE</div> — MoralsMatter (@MoralsMatter)<a href="https://twitter.com/MorganMrs/statuses/959459612641648640">1517587972.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="c6aa6" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="89KYVE1531240118"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="959460473946206208" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@Suits_USA @KatieHeigl Great news. Love the show. Keep it on @NetflixUK in the UK. thank you</div> — ЩэѕБэz (@ЩэѕБэz)<a href="https://twitter.com/WesBez/statuses/959460473946206208">1517588177.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p style=""><strong><em>Grey's Anatomy</em> fans are looking forward to seeing Heigl in another show.</strong><br></p><p class="media-body" style="">
<em><br></em>
</p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="6993f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="GGRU3H1531240118"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="958801592345681921" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@Suits_USA @KatieHeigl All the greys anatomy fans gonna be here to see that. It’s gonna be good</div> — mikaildavis (@mikaildavis)<a href="https://twitter.com/iamMikailDavis/statuses/958801592345681921">1517431087.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p style=""><strong>Some people did not welcome the news, as Heigl had a reputation for stirring things up over contractual matters on <em>Grey's Anatomy</em>.<br></strong></p><p style=""><br><strong></strong></p><p style=""><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="87730" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="MF2PFF1531240118"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="958805382356393984" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@iamMikailDavis @Suits_USA @KatieHeigl Lol, greys fans do not like her
Shonda literally issued a "no assholes" pol… https://t.co/r9yJb0VAik</div> — jc (@jc)<a href="https://twitter.com/juliaching8102/statuses/958805382356393984">1517431991.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="61017" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="INFUNY1531240119"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="959526091747659778" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">I’m so annoyed Katherine Heigl is joining the cast of @Suits_USA. I was so relieved to get rid of her on @GreysABC</div> — Shayla Gibson (@Shayla Gibson)<a href="https://twitter.com/shaylagibson_/statuses/959526091747659778">1517603822.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p style=""><strong>But it's all water under the bridge.</strong></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="80c7e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6OGTED1531240119"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="958823823599702016" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">I'm not here for Katherine Heigl getting hate today. She's a great actress. She's already apologized for ever being… https://t.co/NwuswzqK4x</div> — Norman D. Golden ll (@Norman D. Golden ll)<a href="https://twitter.com/NormanGoldenll/statuses/958823823599702016">1517436388.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p style=""><strong>And plenty of people have Heigl's back.</strong></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="ae776" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="AY1O8N1531240119"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="958829086398402560" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@NormanGoldenll Sounds good 😎. I haven’t seen her latest movie but at least give her character a chance. Suits is a… https://t.co/Kark2IjqA4</div> — VocalTurf 🤔 (@VocalTurf 🤔)<a href="https://twitter.com/VocalTurf/statuses/958829086398402560">1517437643.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="43d1e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6WEEYZ1531240119"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="958834209942056960" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@NormanGoldenll I didn’t know she was a fan of the show. ☺️ That is good to know that it’s not just another job to… https://t.co/tH9lpnnQGD</div> — VocalTurf 🤔 (@VocalTurf 🤔)<a href="https://twitter.com/VocalTurf/statuses/958834209942056960">1517438864.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p style=""><strong>After Markle's departure from the show, Heigl will get a royal welcome to <em>Suits</em>.</strong><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="417a3" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="V41XQ71531240119"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="958797314331742208" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@THR YES QUEEN! I don’t even watch Suits but Katherine sure is a reason for me do do it. She is amazing!</div> — André (@André)<a href="https://twitter.com/andrecullen/statuses/958797314331742208">1517430067.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p style="">H/T - <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=katherine+heigl&partner=Firefox&source=desktop-search" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.thewrap.com/katherine-heigl-joins-suits-season-8/" target="_blank">TheWrap</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suits_(season_7)" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a><br></p>
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