Sons of Anarchy Creator Kurt Sutter Reacts to Spinoff Made Without Him

Charlie Hunnam and Girlfriend Morgana McNelis Turn Up the Heat at Actor Awards 2026 (Exclusive)The Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club is riding into a new limited series—without the original show's creator Kurt Sutter. But the showrunner understands why he's not reaping the rewards of the FX spinoff Legends, which was developed without him by Sons star Charlie Hunnam and Glee's Jonathan Groff. "I know the news about Charlie’s show hit today, and I’m beginning to get some queries about it," Sutter shared in an Aug. 20 video he joked gave off a "hell-like ambience" thanks to filming in a sauna. "I just want to say my piece. I’m not involved with Legends at all—nor should I be." As for why the showrunner doesn't feel excluded from the new version of the club after the 2014 finale? "It has nothing to do with the characters I created, or the mythology," the 66-year-old explained. "It’s really about the show and the legacy of the show, and, quite frankly, there are thousands of people who are responsible for that legacy."Indeed, Sutter pointed out that the project is a meta thriller in which the original Sons of Anarchy cast—including his wife Katey Sagal—will portray fictionalized versions of themselves attending a fan convention. From there, the plot will spiral into a series of unfortunate events as dangerous as what once happened to their characters on TV. "I just want folks to know that Charlie came to me when he was in the process of pitching this to the network to ask for my blessing," Sutter continued, "knowing that the IP would probably not be able to be invoked for various reasons of legalese stuff." As such, there's no bad blood between Sutter and his former set partner—who introduced Groff into the family as an executive producer—or the executives behind the sequel, including FX Networks chairman John Landgraf. "I gave Charlie my full blessing. I wish nothing but the best for him in this project," the writer shared. "My wife is in the project. I have nothing but love for John Landgraf and the folks at FX who have been so good to me, so generous. So it has my full-blown 'Watch this motherf--ker.'"Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty ImagesIn fact, Sutter shared inside knowledge on why die-hard fans should be excited for the new direction Hunnam has taken the story in. "I’ve taken a peek at the script that was perhaps just lying on my wife’s knitting table, and it’s really so well done," he said. "I love Charlie to death, and I think [fans] will have mad love for this project as well." And Sutter's glowing review is only aided by the news that many original SAMCRO members like Kim Coates and Ron Perlman are set to return for the new chapter after seven seasons. Read on for more Hollywood pros who stepped away from TV hits.Disney/Eric McCandlessGregg Sulkin, Wizards Beyond Waverly PlaceIn the Wizards of Waverly Place spinoff's shocking series finale, Selena Gomez's Alex Russo reunited with teen love Mason Greyback (Sulkin)—only to reveal a devastating twist. Greyback revealed his character died during the August 2026 episode, then his ghost filled in the gaps on what Alex has been up to in the years since his passing. "You have a whole other life, Alex," he told her. "You got married. You have a beautiful daughter. And she needs you. That’s the life that you’re meant to live. You have to go back."Peter Gordon/NBCJoe Miñoso, Chicago FireThe OneChicago fanbase was shocked when news broke that Miñoso, who has portrayed firefighter Joe Cruz since the show debuted in 2012, will be leaving the NBC drama during its upcoming 15th season.HBOFabien Frankel, House of the DragonThe world of fire and ice featured another gruesome casualty as Ser Criston Cole was killed in the Riverlands during the Game of Thrones spinoff's July 26, 2026 episode.Lori Allen/NBCLaRoyce Hawkins, Chicago P.D.Hawkins—who has portrayed Officer Kevin Atwater since the NBC drama debuted in 2014—is leaving the show after 13 seasons, E! News has learned. Hawkins will continue his role for several episodes at the top of season 14, set to premiere later this year, to wrap up his character's storyline.Virginia Sherwood/NBCReid Scott, Law & OrderThe Veep alum, who has portrayed Detective Vincent Riley for the past three seasons, will exit the long-running NBC crime drama during the show's upcoming 26th season, set to premiere fall 2026.Michael Yarish /Paramount+Zach Gilford, Criminal Minds: EvolutionThe Paramount+ drama's season 19 finale, released July 23, confirmed the longtime star will not be returning for season 20 after his character Elias Voit was locked up in prison for a murder he took the blame for. "It was hard to say goodbye," Gilford told Us Weekly of his exit. "It definitely was one of my favorite characters I’ve ever gotten to play and partially because what a gift. Every season I got to do a different side of this character. It wasn’t like I was just doing the same thing every year."Clifton Prescod/BravoAmanda Batula, Summer HouseDays after West Wilson confirmed his Summer House exit, news broke that Amanda, who has been a main cast member of the Bravo series since season two, will also not be returning for season 11 amid the fallout from their bombshell romance.Clifton Prescod/BravoWest Wilson, Summer HouseAfter his secret love affair with Amanda Batula nearly destroyed the cast friend group dynamic following season 10, it was no shocker that West walked away from the scandal (and the series) in June 2026 just weeks before season 11 was set to start filming.Disney/Mike TaingBridget Regan, The RookieThe Rookie's corrupt lawyer Monica Stevens was no novice when it came to escaping death. "She's escaped multiple assassinations," actress Bridget Regan recounted to TV Insider of her character's four-season journey, "and prison time and being thrown in a woodchipper." 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The exit isn't so shocking to fans given that Ganesh's character has been planning to take on a new residency program at another medical center.Bill Inoshita/CBS via Getty ImagesRocky Carroll, NCISThe crime procedural said goodbye to Director Leon Vance (played by Rocky Carroll) in a March 2026 episode, 18 years after the leader's debut in season five. During the 500th episode, Vance was killed in a shooting with a corrupt agent and welcomed to heaven by late Chief Medical Examiner Donald "Ducky" Mallard (played by Adam Campbell).Virginia Sherwood/NBCMehcad Brooks, Law & OrderMehcad Brooks shocked fans in 2025 when it was revealed he was leaving the NBC crime drama ahead of season 25. Brooks, who joined the show in 2022, portrayed Detective Jalen Shaw for three seasons.Tina Thorpe/Disney via Getty ImagesKim Raver & Kevin McKidd, Grey's AnatomyKevin McKidd and Kim Raver, who have played Dr. Owen Hunt and Dr. Teddy Altman respectively for nearly 20 years, shocked fans with news that they are leaving the medical drama, with their final episode being the season 22 finale May 7, 2026.Bravo/Danielle LevittJenna Lyons, The Real Housewives of New York CityJenna Lyons announced she will not be returning for The Real Housewives of New York City's 16th season. "The rumors …..Are true," the former J. Crew Creative Director wrote on Instagram Nov. 21. "I was grateful to be asked to join season 16 of RHONY 'as a friend of '- knowing my personal life was not really available to be filmed, we agreed that made sense." The fashion icon—who joined the Bravo series for season 14 in 2022—explained that she later realized being a supporting castmember wasn't for her. "And after thinking it through I have made the difficult decision not return to the show," she continued. "I would be the oldest and only openly gay woman on the show and feel like this is an opportunity for a new dynamic to emerge."Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/ShutterstockChrishell Stause, Selling SunsetAfter nine seasons, the A-list realtor is done selling mega-mansions on the Netflix reality show. “I’ve gotten to a place where I don’t need the show financially,” Chrishell announed in November via social media. “I’m lucky to have other forms of employment, because it’s no longer good for my mental health.”BravoJax Taylor, The ValleyJax Taylor announced he will not be returning to The Valley for season three amid growing concern from fans about his behavior during the show’s second season. “Right now, my focus needs to be on my sobriety, my mental health, and coparenting," the Bravo star—who is embroiled in a nasty divorce from estranged wife Brittany Cartwright—shared in July 2025. "Taking this time is necessary for me to become the best version of myself—especially for our son, Cruz.”Mike Coppola/NBC via Getty ImagesMichael Longfellow, Emil Wakim & Devon Walker, Saturday Night LiveThe Saturday Night Live stars all announced within days of each other that they would not be returning for the sketch comedy series' 51st season. Longfellow and Walker each spent three seasons on SNL while Wakim exited after just one season.Todd Williamson/NBCHeidi Gardner & Ego Nwodim, Saturday Night LiveWeeks after Longfellow, Walker and Wakim left SNL, longtime fan-favorites Gardner and Nwodim also confirmed they would not be returning for season 51 after eight and seven seasons, respectively.Disney/Bahareh RitterSofia Mattsson, General HospitalSofia Mattsson exited the long-running soap opera in summer 2025 after seven years playing Sasha Gilmore. Her character left Port Charles for Paris.HBO Max/Warrick PageTracy Ifeachor, The PittThe Pitt star Tracy Ifeachor walked away from the hit HBO Max series after the medical drama's breakout first season. "It was an absolute privilege to play Dr. Heather Collins in such a groundbreaking season and piece," the actress posted on Instagram July 10. "Thank you to everyone who has watched & supported Season 1 & shared their stories with me."Liane Hentscher/HBOPedro Pascal, The Last of UsWhile fans maybe should have been aware that the days were numbered for Pedro Pascal's Joel Miller, considering his April 2025 death was quite similar to how it unfolded in The Last of Us Part II, the 2020 video game season two of The Last of Us is based on, the moment his character was brutally impaled still stunned. Pascal, meanwhile, who also died onscreen in Game of Thrones and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, took his game over status in stride. "I get killed a lot," he joked to Entertainment Weekly. "I like to die." Disney/Christopher WillardPeter Krause, 9-1-1After what he dubbed "one wild adventure," Peter Krause officially extinguished his role as 9-1-1's Los Angeles Fire Department captain Bobby Nash on an April 2025 episode of the procedural drama. “Bobby Nash was written in sacrifice, and he was built for this,” Krause wrote in a statement to the Hollywood Reporter. “First responders risk their lives on the job so that others can see another day. His story arc honors them.” Killing off the somewhat tormented, but beloved, firefighter was certainly a hot topic, showrunner Tim Minear acknowledged to Variety, "but after eight years, it just felt like, if we have any hope of creating stories going forward that have actual stakes, then someone's got to die."Clifton Prescod/BravoPaige DeSorbo, Summer HouseSummer just got a little less fun. Paige DeSorbo announced in June 2025 that she was walking away from the Bravo series after seven seasons. 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"Alas, I will be laying down my medallion and my swords for Season 4."Matt Dinerstein/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty ImagesJesse Lee Soffer, Chicago P.D.Original castmember Jesse Lee Soffer turned in his badge in 2022, saying goodbye to his beloved character Detective Jay Halstead role after 10 seasons. "To create this hour drama week after week has been a labor of love by everyone who touches the show," Soffer said in a statement after his final appearance in the NBC procedural's Oct. 5 episode. "I will always be proud of my time as Det. Jay Halstead."For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App