Why isn’t Mike Ross in Suits season 8, why did actor Patrick J Adams quit the show and who is replacing Meghan Markle?
MIKE Ross' journey from talented college dropout to fraudulent associate to a qualified lawyer had gripped fans for over seven years.
However, the fan-favourite has now departed the series and here's everything you need to know about why actor Patrick J Adams quit the show and who replaces his on-screen wife Meghan Markle...
Why isn't Mike Ross in Suits season 8?
After seven years on the show, Mike Ross finally departed the hit-legal drama after marrying long-term girlfriend Rachel Zane in the season seven finale.
TV's wedding of the year had previously been halted when Mike was arrested and hauled to prison but they finally exchanged vows in the hope of starting a new life.
After the ceremony, Mike explained to Harvey that he would be moving to Seattle with Rachel to set up his own law clinic which would defend class actions against big companies.
Despite no longer being a series regular, series creator Aaron Korsch caused a stir on Twitter when he hinted that Mike could one day return.
How come actor Patrick J Adams quit the show?
Patrick J Adams, 36, had risen to fame as unlicensed lawyer Mike Ross but he revealed shortly after Meghan Markle announced her exit that he too would say goodbye.
Patrick told The Hollywood Reporter: "After seven seasons — really, eight years of being away from home and away from my now-wife and there was that pressure.
"I started thinking about leaving at the end of the first half of season six, after Mike was released from prison. From a story point of view, I was a little unsure of what was left for him to do.
"Mike had made the pledge during his trial that if he were allowed to continue to practice the law, he would dedicate his time and energy to under-represented people and not big, corporate interests.
"I wasn’t sure how we were going to work that version of the character into the fabric of the show."
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Who's replacing Meghan Markle?
After her Royal Wedding to Prince Harry, Meghan Markle officially retired from acting and bowed out of Suits.
Her character Rachel Zane was replaced by Grey's Anatomy star Katherine Heigl.
Katherine will play Samantha Wheeler, a new partner at the firm, whose attitude and reputation rubs Harvey and Louis the wrong way.
In a statement, the actress said, “I have watched Suits from the very beginning and feel incredibly lucky to be the newest member of the Pearson Specter Litt family.”