The CW Network has finalized a deal for a Season 5 renewal of its Canadian romantic drama Sullivan’s Crossing starring Morgan Kohan and Chad Michael Murray. The 10-episode fifth season, which will start production in Nova Scotia later this summer, will premiere on the CW in 2027, keeping the series’ yearly cadence.
The pickup by the CW, which has been Sullivan’s Crossing‘s first-window U.S. home since Season 1, follows the show’s Season 5 renewal by CTV and Crave in Canada more than a month ago as part of parent Bell Media’s upfront announcements.
As Deadline reported exclusively last week, Sullivan’s Crossing, created by Roma Roth based on the New bestselling book series by Robyn Carr, will have a new Head Writer in Season 5, Floyd Kane, as Roth has stepped down from the position she held for the first four seasons. She remains an executive producer while shepherding a new series unveiled at the CTV upfront, Thunder Point, also based on Carr novels. (Roth also executive produces Netflix’s hit Carr adaptation, Virgin River.)
“I could not be more excited that Sullivan’s Crossing will be returning for its fifth season,” Roth said. “From the beginning, my goal was to create a long-running series that would resonate deeply with a global audience, and I’m thrilled that our fans have supported us every step of the way. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished alongside our valued partners, crew, and cast and remain committed to guiding the series as we continue to build on our success with Season 5. I’m also delighted to welcome head writer Floyd Kane, whose talented storytelling will help shape the next chapter of Sullivan’s Crossing, as I continue to expand my brand and bring another beloved Robyn Carr book series to life.”
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Sullivan’s Crossing, which has been boosted by additional exposure on Netflix in the US, has averaged more than 1 million cross-platform viewers per episode season-to-date for the CW. On linear television, the series is up +62% among adults 18-49, +26% among adults 25-54 and +30% in total viewers, with P2+ viewing across VOD platforms rising +44% within seven days of airing.
On Netflix, Sullivan’s Crossing launched last summer with its first three seasons, becoming an instant hit. The show has been getting a ratings halo effect with Season 4, the first installment on the CW since the show’s previous seasons were made available on the streamer. Season 4, whose finale aired June 22 on the CW, debuted on Netflix on June 30. It ranked at #6 on Netflix’s English series chart globally for its opening week with 3M views despite only being available in the U.S.
In Season 4, Maggie Sullivan (Kohan) finally feels like life at the Crossing is falling into place, having embraced a new direction for her career and renewed her commitment to Cal (Murray). But when Maggie’s ex-husband, Liam (Marcus Rosner), arrives with a shocking revelation, her world is thrown into turmoil once again — leaving Cal questioning whether Maggie can ever truly leave her past behind.
Season 4 marked the series’ first installment without original co-lead Scott Patterson. There are no current plans for him to return in Season 5, at least in a significant way, I hear.
Sullivan’s Crossing is executive produced by Reel World Management’s Roma Roth and Christopher E. Perry, along with Muse Entertainment’s Aren Prupas, in association with Bell Media, The CW, and Fremantle. Carr is also an executive producer alongside Michela Di Mondo (Fremantle), Hilary Martin (Fremantle), and Justin Stockman (Bell Media). Marc Tetreault, Jason Levangie, and Alex Jordan will serve as producers, with Kane as head writer. The series is distributed internationally by Fremantle.