Suits fans weren’t exactly surprised when Royal-to-be Meghan Markle confirmed her departure from the series after eight seasons, but that was only half the story. Not only is USA bringing the stealthily popular legal drama back for an eighth season without Markle or co-lead Patrick J. Adams, but Katherine Heigl now has a leading role.

It was only yesterday that USA confirmed Suits would return for an eighth season absent series lead Patrick J. Adams and co-star Meghan Markle; simultaneously promoting Psych alum Dulé Hill to series regular. Adams’ co-lead Gabriel Macht is still around to anchor the series, though the eighth season has now added Katherine Heigl in a major role as “Samantha Wheeler, 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.” Said Heigl of the addition:

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.

Still present among the cast for Season 8 are Sarah Rafferty and Rick Hoffman, as Gina Torres has also left the series for a proposed Chicago-set spinoff. Heigl, meanwhile, last made TV comeback attempts with CBS’ Doubt and NBC’s State of Affairs. The Suits Season 7 finale will air in April.

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