[TV] Suits - Page 173

Katherine Heigl joins 'Suits' in the wake of Meghan Markle's departure

To fill the void created by the upcoming exit of Meghan Markle, USA Network's is bringing in a new face for season eight of 'Suits.' Grey's Anatomy alum Katherine Heigl is joining the Aaron Korsh-created "Blue Skies" drama as a series regular. Heigl issued a statement saying, “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." Wochit-All

USA has tapped Katherine Heigl to replace Meghan Markle on its long-running legal dramedy Suits.

The Grey's Anatomy star will play Samantha Wheeler, a disruptive new partner at the law firm when production begins on Season 8 this April in Toronto.

“I have watched Suits from the very beginning and feel incredibly lucky to be the newest member of the Pearson Specter Litt family,” Heigl, 39, said in a statement.

In his own statement, Suits creator Aaron Korsh proclaimed, “I cannot wait to have her come play with our entire cast and crew. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Harvey, Louis, Donna and Alex as the mysterious Samantha Wheeler is a direct threat to their status quo."

The Emmy-winning Heigl, who left Grey's Anatomy in 2010 to concentrate on her then-hot film career, has since starred in a pair of short-lived TV dramas, NBC's State of Affairs and, more recently, CBS' Doubt.

On Tuesday, USA announced that Markle's final episode will be April 25 and that Dulé Hill, a veteran of The West Wing and Pysch, would replace the departing Patrick J. Adams.