It is time for ABC to say goodbye to one of its own. According to Variety, the medical drama series The Good Doctor is set to end after its forthcoming seventh season. In a statement, Freddie Highmore (Bates Motel, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), who portrays the highly intelligent autistic surgeon Dr. Shaun Murphy, spoke out on his feelings on the news.
“Playing Dr. Shaun Murphy has been an immense privilege and one of the most remarkable and rewarding experiences of my life,” Highmore said via Variety. “I will always be grateful to David, Liz, and Erin as well as the hugely talented – and lovely – cast, writers, and crew who made this show possible. Caring deeply is what got us here. Thank you to Sony and ABC, and to everyone who has watched along at home. With love from Vancouver… tequila, stat!”
Premiering in 2017 on ABC, The Good Doctor has proved immensely popular. It held the No.1 spot for entertainment series on Monday at 10 p.m. last season, with the demographic of adults from 18-49, as per Variety. The seventh and last season is set to premiere on Feb.20.
“’The Good Doctor’ has been a once in a lifetime opportunity. Still, it’s time to say goodbye,” stated co-executive producers and showrunners Liz Friedman (Jessica Jones, Orange Is the New Black) and David Shore (House, Law & Order) alongside another executive producer Erin Gunn (Sneaky Pete, Battle Creek), via Variety.“We are incredibly proud of the work we’ve done and the message we’ve been privileged to be a part of. We look forward to giving our fantastic fans, the truly extraordinary Freddie Highmore, the rest of our talented actors (and friends), and the best crew in the business the series ending that you all deserve. Thank you, Sony; thank you, ABC; thank you all.”
Other stars join Highmore in the series, such as Richard Schiff (Man of Steel, The West Wing), Chuku Modu (Captain Marvel, Game of Thrones), Will Yun Lee (Rampage, San Andreas), Christina Chang (28 Days, Live Free or Die Hard), Fiona Gubelmann (Royally Ever After, Wilfred), Paige Spara (Home Again, Kevin from Work), Noah Galvin (Booksmart, Theater Camp) and Bria Simoné Henderson (Virginality, The Donor Party).
“Thanks to David Shore and Liz Friedman’s creative direction and anchored by Freddie Highmore’s performance, ‘The Good Doctor’ has captivated audiences, who have deeply connected with Dr. Shaun Murphy and the staff at San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital,” stated the president of Disney Television Group, Craig Erwich, via Variety. “As we prepare to finish this beloved story, words cannot express our gratitude for the incredible cast, crew and our partners at Sony and ABC Signature for the lasting impact they’ve made.”
Executively produced and co-show run by Friedman and Shore, The Good Doctor also has several other executive producers, such as Gunn, Daniel Dae Kim (Lost, Hellboy), Thomas L. Moran (House, NCIS), David Hoselton (Brother Bear, First Knight), Jessica Grasl (Shades of Blue, Proof), Peter Blake (The Practice, Elementary), Garrett Lerner (Ordinary Joe, Glee), Highmore, Mike Listo (Boston Legal, Ally McBeal), Shawn Williamson (The Company You Keep, It Lives Inside), Sebastian Lee (City Hunter, Pachinko) and David Kim (Pachinko, American Seoul). ABC Signature and Sony Pictures Television produce The Good Doctor.
The series has been one of many to reveal its end with its forthcoming season. As previously reported, another ABC series, Station 19, is also set to end with its seventh season. On the CBS side, Young Sheldon, Blue Bloods, SWAT and Bob Hearts Abishola are all set to end as well. In addition, Variety also reports that NBC will cut some of their beloved shows, including La Brea, after three seasons. Just recently, the network premiered its final season of the Magnum P.I. reboot. Over at The CW, Superman and Lois is set to end with its fourth season.