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Katherine Heigl and Meghan Markle.
- Hollywood actress Katherine Heigl is joining the cast of 'Suits' as Meghan Markle and co-star Patrick J. Adams depart.
- Heigl will join the cast in season 8 playing a new partner at the legal drama's Pearson Specter Litt law firm.
- Markle and Adams will leave the show at the end of season 7.
"Grey's Anatomy" and "Knocked Up" star Katherine Heigl is officially set to join the cast of legal drama "Suits" as royal-to-be Meghan Markle departs.
The USA Network announced on Wednesday that Heigl will become a series regular in the show's eighth season, which is due to begin filming in Toronto in April.
She'll be playing the character of Samantha Wheeler, "a talented new partner at the show's Pearson Specter Litt law firm."
According to Fox News: "Her role will challenge the status quo of the office as she becomes either its greatest asset or most powerful enemy."
It was revealed last year that Markle would be leaving the show as Markle prepared for life as a royal - she's set to marry Prince Harry in May, after all.
Her co-star Patrick J. Adams - her on-screen fiancé - announced he was also leaving the show earlier this week.
In a statement from USA Network, long-time "Suits" fan Heigl said: "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."