The Pitt’s Tracy Ifeachor ‘Didn’t Choose’ to Leave the Show But ‘Not Aware of Any Doors Being Closed’ (Exclusive)

The Pitt’s Tracy Ifeachor hinted that season 2 would look a little different before news broke about her shocking exit — but that doesn’t mean Dr. Collins can’t return in the future.

Us Weekly confirmed on Thursday, July 10, that Ifeachor, 40, will not be reprising her role as Dr. Heather Collins in season 2. Amid reports that the decision was made by the show’s creative team, a source told Us that it was always the plan for Ifeachor’s character — who was a fourth-year resident in the first season — to go on and be a doctor in future installments of the show.

Due to the nature of The Pitt, Collins won’t be in season 2, but Ifeachor “didn’t choose to leave the show” and isn’t aware of “any doors being closed” on a possible return.

Ifeachor previously told Us in May that there would be “a lot of surprises” in the sophomore season, adding, “I’m not a [plot] ruiner. I’m not even going to tell you who is or is not going to come back. I’m just going to say I want you to watch season 2 and just enjoy it as much as you’ve watched season 1. Hopefully there’ll be seasons 3 and 4 and 7.”

The actress remained tight-lipped when asked if she would be coming back. “Listen, there is going to be an amazing cast in season 2 — just as there was in season 1,” she teased. “I’m just going to leave it there.”

Ifeachor recently reflected on her time with the show, which is what caused The Pitt fans to question whether she would be returning as Collins again.

“What a blessing to be a part of this first and foundational season of #ThePitt on @hbomax,” she wrote via Instagram on Wednesday, July 9. “It was an absolute privilege to play Dr. Heather Collins in such a groundbreaking season and piece,” she captioned her Instagram video. “Thank you to everyone who has watched & supported Season 1 & shared their stories with me.”

Viewers were introduced to the senior resident when The Pitt premiered in Januaryon HBO. Many were excited to see Noah Wyle play a doctor again after a 15-year stint on ER. It didn’t take long for Us to fall in love with the entire cast including Dr. Robby (Wyle), Dr. Collins (Ifeachor), Dr. Langdon (Patrick Ball), Dana (Katherine LaNasa), Dr. Moha (Supriya Ganesh), Dr. Cassie McKay (Fiona Dourif), Dr. King (Taylor Dearden), Dr. Santos (Isa Briones), Whitaker (Gerran Howell) and Javadi (Shabana Azeez).

But once The Pitt was renewed for a second season, the creative team hinted that not everyone might return since the show would have a time jump and work assignments at the hospital could change.

“The truth is that we loved all these characters. You can only keep certain people in certain jobs in certain hospitals before there’s a natural changeover,” Wyle, 54, told Decider in April about choosing who returns for a second season. “I don’t know how to answer that question other than to say that it’s great that people want these characters to come back and that’s really fun to play into and away from and with, and that’s great.”

Creator R. Scott Gemmill and executive producer John Wells also spoke about how they have “found a way to do some things” so that fans could expect “some new people” in season 2.

“We’ll see how things shake out and who wants to stay,” Gemmill told the outlet. “Sometimes it’s who wants to stay on the show. Some people get other opportunities and we bless them and send them on their way. Kick them out of the nest, let them fly. So we don’t have any real hard rules moving forward with that. We’re just going to play it by ear, for now.”

Ifeachor, for her part, gushed to Us about her time on the show — especially when it came to bringing Collins and Robby’s romance to life. In season 1 it was revealed that Collins and Robby previously dated for a few months — but there was still chemistry there years later.

“I am always a hopeful romantic. I would have loved to have seen that toward the end of the season,” she recalled before quipping, “I remember saying to Noah one time, I was like, ‘I’ve been trying to flirt with you all season [on screen]. You have not even given me the time of day.’ I was always trying to [as Collins] and I felt like it was definitely in the script. … I would say there’s going to be lots of surprises to come.”

The Pitt has been renewed for season 2 and is currently streaming on HBO Max.