Meghan Markle has reportedly not been invited back to the world of Suits as paralegal Rachel Zane.
The upcoming offshoot, Suits LA, will start shooting a pilot in April, according to star Lex Scott Davis.
It will follow a brand-new set of characters, led by former New York federal prosecutor Ted Black (played by Stephen Amell), who “has reinvented himself representing the most powerful clients in Los Angeles.”
While the LA-set offshoot is confirmed to be set in the same universe as the original USA Network drama, none of the original cast have been confirmed to make a return just yet.
Of course, there’s always the opportunity for guest appearances and cameos, but fans shouldn’t expect Meghan to make an appearance.
NBCUniversal hasn’t officially confirmed whether or not original cast members, including Meghan, will appear, but the chances are slim to none.
For one, Meghan’s stint on the series happened before she married Prince Harry and subsequently joined then left the Royal Family.
Although she hasn’t acted on-screen for some time, the Duchess of Sussex is now much more recognisable and might overshadow the drama if she makes even a brief appearance.
Moreover, Meghan’s character Rachel already received a satisfying conclusion when she left Suits at the end of season seven.
In the finale, she finally married her longtime love interest Michael James Ross (Patrick J Adams) and moved to Seattle.
While they’re now on the West Coast, and closer to Suits’ new LA office than New York City, it’s still a lengthy trip for the couple, who made it clear they weren’t coming back.
As for Meghan herself, while there have been rumours she’s eyeing a return to a Hollywood career, the Duchess seemed to suggest her final episode of Suits would also be her final acting credit.
Speaking to People, she said: “I don’t see it as giving anything up. I just see it as a change.
“It’s a new chapter, right? And also, keep in mind, I’ve been working on [Suits] for seven years.
“We were very, very fortunate to have that sort of longevity on a series … I’ve ticked this box, and I feel very proud of the work I’ve done there, and now it’s time to work with [Harry] as a team.”
Meghan has been in front of the camera since then, most notably in the Sussexes’ docuseries Harry and Meghan, but a return to acting probably isn’t on the horizon.
