The popular romantic drama Sullivan’s Crossing is going through major behind-the-scenes changes as it gets ready for its fifth season. Series creator Roma Roth is stepping away from her role as head writer and showrunner, passing the creative reins to Floyd Kane. This change comes after months of tension following the sudden exit of star Scott Patterson, who played Sully, over what he called “untenable” creative differences.
The show, which airs on CTV in Canada and The CW in the United States, has become a major success since it first premiered in 2023. Based on the book series by Robyn Carr, the series follows Maggie Sullivan (played by Morgan Kohan), a former Boston neurosurgeon who returns to her small Nova Scotia hometown and finds love with local handyman Cal Jones (played by Chad Michael Murray). With Season 5 now in the works, fans are wondering how these creative shifts will affect the show they love.
Roma Roth Steps Back From Day-to-Day Leadership
Roma Roth, who created the series and served as head writer for all four seasons, will continue to work on the show as an executive producer. However, she will no longer handle the daily creative decisions. According to reports from USA Today and Deadline, Roth is stepping down to focus on her new series Thunder Point, another adaptation of a Robyn Carr novel for CTV and Crave.
The change was first reported by Deadline on July 8, 2026. Floyd Kane, a Canadian director and TV producer known for his work on Diggstown, will take over as both showrunner and head writer for Season 5. Production for the new season is expected to begin in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in the summer of 2026.
Roth’s exit from the showrunner position is a big deal for the series. She built Sullivan’s Crossing from the ground up and shaped its romantic, small-town tone. While she remains involved as an executive producer, having a new creative leader means Season 5 could feel different in terms of pacing, dialogue, and emotional direction.
Scott Patterson’s Exit and the Creative Differences That Started It All
The tension behind the scenes at Sullivan’s Crossing became public in March 2026 when Scott Patterson, who played the beloved character Sully, announced he would not return for Season 4. Patterson, known for his role as Luke Danes on Gilmore Girls, had been a mainstay on the show for three seasons. His character, Sully, was Maggie’s estranged father and the owner of the campground that gives the series its name.
At the time, Roth told Us Weekly that Sully’s absence was part of the story. She explained that Season 3 ended with Sully leaving for Ireland, and Season 4 would pick up with him still overseas. She said the character could potentially return in future seasons if it made sense creatively.
But Patterson told a different story. In a Facebook post on March 5, 2026, he wrote that creative differences on the show had become “untenable” and that he “sadly realized that the show was not something that I could agree to continue”. He later clarified that leaving was not his choice. He wrote:
“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.”
Patterson also expressed his love for the character, saying:
“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.”
Roth later told The Canadian Press that she was surprised by Patterson’s comments. This public disagreement created a lot of buzz among fans and raised questions about what was really going on behind the scenes.
Floyd Kane Takes Over as New Showrunner
With Roth stepping down, Floyd Kane is now in charge of the creative direction for Season 5. Kane is a well-respected Canadian TV producer and director. He is best known for his work on the legal drama Diggstown, which also aired on CBC. His experience with character-driven dramas makes him a solid choice to lead Sullivan’s Crossing into its next chapter.
Kane will serve as both head writer and showrunner, giving him full control over the storylines for the upcoming season. This is a big responsibility, especially since the show has built a loyal fanbase over four seasons. Fans will be watching closely to see how the show evolves under new leadership.
Roth, for her part, will stay on as an executive producer. This means she will still have some involvement in the series, but her focus will shift to developing Thunder Point, another Robyn Carr adaptation. Thunder Point is set to air on CTV and Crave, and it will likely share the same romantic drama style that made Sullivan’s Crossing a hit.
Which Cast Members Are Returning for Season 5?
With all these changes, fans are naturally wondering who will be back for Season 5. The good news is that the main cast is expected to return.
- Morgan Kohan is expected to reprise her role as Maggie Sullivan. She is the heart of the show, and there would be no Sullivan’s Crossing without her.
- Chad Michael Murray will likely return as Cal Jones. Murray has already spoken about what he hopes to see in Season 5, including a smoother relationship for Cal and Maggie.
- Tom Jackson is expected to return as Frank Cranebear.
- Andrea Menard is likely coming back as Edna Cranebear.
- Other supporting cast members like Lindura (Sydney Shandon), Reid Price (Rob Shandon), Dakota Taylor (Rafe Vadas), and Fuad Ahmed (Amir Malik) are also expected to return.
However, there are two major question marks.
Scott Patterson is not expected to return as Sully. He exited before Season 4, and his status for Season 5 has not been announced. Given his public comments about creative differences, a return seems unlikely.
Amalia Williamson, who plays Lola Gunderson, has said she is unsure about returning. She is currently starring in another series, You’re Killing Me, and told Us Weekly she doesn’t know if she can come back. She said, “I would love to go back. I love my Sullivan’s Crossing family. I miss them”. But her schedule may not allow it.
What to Expect From Season 5
Season 4 ended with a lot of unresolved storylines. The finale saw Cal propose to Maggie after she kissed her ex-husband, Liam (played by Marcus Rosner). Chad Michael Murray told USA Today that there was a lot of discussion about how the proposal would play out. He said there was even a version where Maggie proposed to Cal.
Murray also shared his hopes for Season 5:
“Now I’m hoping that we can have a whole Season 5 without any red flags, without any lies, and it’s just the two of them taking on the outside world, together as a team.”
He also told Good Housekeeping that he wants Cal to “look forward to becoming a father” after previously resisting the idea because of his own difficult relationship with his dad. He even suggested that the show might eventually have to deal with the death of Cal’s father.
Another major storyline involves Tracy, a young girl whose foster parents can no longer care for her. At the end of Season 4, Maggie and Cal were asked to take her in. Murray called this cliffhanger a springboard for “great storytelling in Season 5”.
When Will Season 5 Premiere?
There is no official release date for Sullivan’s Crossing Season 5 yet. However, filming is set to begin in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in the summer of 2026. If production follows the same schedule as previous seasons, new episodes could premiere in Canada in March or April 2027, with a U.S. debut on The CW shortly after.
The show will likely follow its usual pattern: airing first on CTV in Canada, then on The CW in the United States, and eventually arriving on Netflix after the broadcast run ends. All four seasons are currently streaming on Netflix.
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A New Chapter for Sullivan’s Crossing
Sullivan’s Crossing has become one of CTV’s most popular dramas. The network announced the Season 5 renewal even before Season 4 finished airing. The show remains a big hit in Canada, on The CW, and internationally through Netflix. With a new showrunner at the helm and some cast changes, Season 5 will mark a new chapter for the series. Fans will have to wait and see how the creative transition affects the show they love.
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