The upcoming spinoff of the popular legal drama “Suits” has generated buzz amongst fans of the original show. Patrick J. Adams, who played attorney Mike Ross for many seasons, recently said he would be open to reprising his role in the new series titled “Suits: L.A.” However, his possible return also raises questions around how the spinoff might address Mike’s wife Rachel, who Adams acted alongside for years but has since left TV acting.
In a recent interview, Adams expressed enthusiasm about potentially bringing Mike Ross back. He noted that reintroducing the character would need to somehow explain Rachel’s absence, since she and Mike had a central relationship in “Suits.” Meghan Markle, the actress who portrayed Rachel, has stepped away from acting after marrying Prince Harry in 2018.
The original series faced figuring out how to include Mike without Rachel for its final season in 2019. At that time, Adams made guest appearances while the show explained that Rachel remained in Seattle while Mike visited New York. The show’s creator later said he chose not to ask Markle about appearing out of respect for her changing life circumstances.
If Mike returns, the spinoff would inevitably need to address where Rachel is now. This could be challenging given the importance of Mike and Rachel’s marriage to the plot of the first series. However, bonds between the “Suits” cast seem to have lasted. Adams recently launched a rewatch podcast for the legal drama with his former co-star. And Adams shared that Markle herself sent a supportive message about the project, highlighting the continuing friendship between cast members.
As “Suits: L.A.” develops, viewers will watch closely to see how the spinoff balances honoring the origins of “Suits” with introducing new storylines. Introducing familiar faces like Mike Ross could attract fans but must be done carefully. Only time will tell if he appears and how Rachel’s absence might be acknowledged.
