It looked for a while like Suits season 8 might not happen, thanks to a whole host of cast contracts coming to an end, and a slight renewal delay from the USA Network.
Still, the show's creator Aaron Korsh was always very confident the series would come back. "I'm always operating under the assumption that we'll be back next year," he told Deadline. "It's never been wrong yet; obviously one day it will be wrong and when that time comes, I'll know well in advance."
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Thankfully for fans, USA confirmed season 8 at the end of January this year, just in time for the second half of season 7 (which started in the same month).
"After seven seasons, Suits remains one of USA Network's most beloved and popular series," an official statement said.
"While we're excited for season eight, everyone at USA will deeply miss Patrick [J Adams] and Meghan [Markle], and are grateful for the talent and commitment they brought to Suits season after season. We wish each of them nothing but the very best."
Speaking of which...
Suits season 8 Meghan Markle: is she coming back?
Just in case there's anyone on the planet who doesn't know this, Meghan Markle will not be returning for season 8, as she's going to be a little bit busy being an actual princess for the foreseeable future.
"I don't see [my engagement] as giving anything up, I just see it as a change," she told BBC News. "It's a new chapter. Also, keep in mind, I've been working on my show for seven years.
"We're very, very fortunate to have that sort of longevity on a series. Once we hit the 100 episode marker, I thought, 'You know, I have ticked this box'. I feel really proud of the work that I've done there, and now it's time to work as a team [with Harry]."
"I guessed that if she married a prince that she wasn't going to stay on the show," Korsh said of writing out Markle's character Rachel. "So we decided, in our hearts, to bank on her finding love and kind of having a fairy tale ending in her own life and assuming that good things were going to happen for her."
Patrick J Adams also won't be in season 8 as Mike Ross, as he wants to spend more time with his family.
Adams said of his impending departure, "Mike Ross has taught me a lot about commitment, hard work and the power of believing in yourself and I feel blessed that now we both get to walk out into the lives that we never dreamed we would actually be lucky enough to live."
However, unlike Markle, Adams could potentially reappear on Suits in future according to Korsh. "When Patrick left, he and I discussed it and decided we're both open to having Mike come back, 100%," he revealed.
"When that is will be determined by A, whatever he's doing at the time, and also B, whatever organic story there is to tell, but I would love to have that happen."
Suits season 8 cast: who will be in it?
There's no Suits without Harvey Specter, so of course Gabriel Macht will be back, alongside fellow series veterans Rick Hoffman (Louis Litt) and Sarah Rafferty (Donna Paulsen).
Having debuted on the show last season as Harvey's old pal Alex Williams, Dulé Hill will be a regular for season 8 - which makes sense, since Alex is now a senior partner at Specter Litt - while Amanda Schull, who's recurred on the show since season 2 as Katrina Bennett, will also be made a main cast member.
As for new additions, Katherine Heigl will be returning to network TV to play Pearson Specter Litt's newest partner, Samantha Wheeler, described as being cunning enough to become the firm's "greatest ally or most powerful enemy".
"Joining Suits was the perfect organic way to not only collaborate with [writer Aaron Korsh, who] I admire deeply, but to also become part of a show and cast that I am an immense fan of," Heigl said.
"I have watched Suits from the very beginning and feel incredibly lucky to be the newest member of the Pearson Specter Litt family."
Here's a first look at Heigl in action, going up against Harvey!
Suits season 8 air date: when will it be on?
The show will return in 2019, so expect it to turn up at the usual Suits time – summer. It'll drop around July / August, airing on the USA Network. Hopefully, like season 7, it'll hit Netflix in the UK the following day.
Suits season 8 spin-off: who does it star?
Gina Torres' Jessica Pearson made her original Suits exit back in season six, but she returned for season 7 – because the USA Network wants to give the character her own show.
NBCUniversal Cable president Chris McCumber confirmed the spin-off, "the powerhouse character of Jessica Pearson, expertly brought to life by the incomparable Gina Torres, has won the hearts of television fans everywhere.
"USA Network is beyond thrilled to work with Gina, Aaron Korsh, the entire Suits producing team and our partners at UCP to explore the exciting next phase of Jessica."
The show - which will see Jessica enter the dirty world of brokering power in Chicago's local government - was ordered to series in March 2018, and will be called Second City.
Could this spin-off cross over with season 8? We'd bet our last legal fee that it will.
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Starting out as a staff writer at Total Film, moving up to Deputy Online Editor, Sam was responsible for Total Film’s YouTube channel, where he revolutionised the magazine’s approach to video junkets, creating influential formats that spread to other outlets.
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In 2014, Sam went freelance, working directly for film studios including Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox and Disney, as well as covering red carpet events for film marketing company PMA Productions.
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In 2012, Sam made it to the final of the Leicester Square Theatre New Comedian of the Year competition, and went on to become a filmmaker himself, directing three features that have all played major festivals, and secured distribution – starring in two of them.
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