Suits lead Patrick J. Adams talks about returning for the upcoming spinoff series, addressing Mike’s marriage to Meghan Markle’s Rachel Zane. Suits: L.A. is set to premiere on NBC, with Arrow star Stephen Amell in the main role, although no specific release date has been announced. Adams, who plays Mike, has expressed a willingness to reprise his well-known role in the past. But now, he’s delving deeper into imagining what that possibility could look like.

In comments to TVLine, while discussing his role in the Fox crime anthology Accussed, Adams was asked about the possibility of reprising his role in the upcoming Suits spinoff. The actor shared that he congratulated Suits creator Aaron Korsh on the L.A. offshoot getting picked up, given that Korsh is also working on the new NBC series. Adams also again restated his openness to being involved with the project.

When it came to whether Mike and Rachel are still together, given how they got married during Suits season 7, Adams originally sounded pretty confident that the fan-favorite pairing is still together. But he does seem to tease that the relationship might have ended. Read Adams’ comments below:

“I’ve offered my services at all times. I love Aaron Korsh and I love that world; it changed my whole life. Obviously I congratulated Aaron when he got the [series] pickup. … I know he had an amazing time on the pilot. He said it was like putting on those favorite old clothes again, but with brand-new people who haven’t been in the trenches with you yet.”

“Of course they are. Or at least I hope so… That will be the interesting thing, if we can get Mike back in the fold somehow. I guess we’ll figure out how it’s going [with Rachel] — or if it’s going.”

What Adams’ Comments Mean For The Suits Spinoff

An Original Suits Character Is Not The Focus

Mike Ross was undoubtedly the focus of those early years in Suits, with his character working at a law firm despite never attending law school. The spinoff has a different center of attention in the character of Ted Black, who is played by Amell. Ted is a former federal prosecutor from New York, but he has since reinvented himself by representing some of the most powerful clients in Los Angeles. The spinoff is said to focus on entertainment law cases, given the show’s setting, The pilot episode of Suits L.A. sees John Amos playing himself, for instance.

The main cast of Suits L.A. also includes Bryan Greenberg, Josh McDermitt, Lex Scott Davis, and Troy Winbush.

The project is a spinoff in the vein of NCIS or CSI, in which crossovers with the original series are possible. But the week-to-the-week episodes will likely not have much to do with the former Suits cast, instead focusing on establishing a new group of characters. Any talk of a crossover would also likely depend on the success of Suits L.A. and whether it runs for multiple seasons, allowing more space for the story to evolve and grow.

Our Take On Mike’s Potential Return In The Suits Spinoff

Without Rachel, There’s A Risk

Adams has a busy slate of on-screen projects. He’s part of The Madison cast, which is a Yellowstone-connected series from Taylor Sheridan. His episode of the crime anthology Accussed, meanwhile, airs October 2. He plays a villainous tech entrepreneur, portraying someone from the other side of the law. But he, like other Suits alums, has expressed a willingness to reprise their old roles.

Still, if the show had to break up Mike and Rachel, as a way to deal with the fact that Markle has stepped back from acting, it’s probably a bad move. Helping to set up Suits: L.A. shouldn’t mean discounting what Suits built and potentially distancing viewers who rooted for a well-established couple.