Taylor Kitsch is leaving Friday Night Lights (FNL).
The 28-year-old heartthrob will not reprise his role when the cult football drama airs its fifth — and likely final — season later this year, TV Guide’s William Keck divulged on Monday.
Kitsch is exiting the show to focus on his burgeoning film career, producers say. Kitsch has been cast in the sci-fi fantasy film John Carter of Mars, which is set to start shooting this month. He is also attached to co-star in the apartheid drama The Bang Bang Club. Lights producers wanted to ensure that Kitsch could focus on both films, so it’s unclear how much time he’ll have left for FNL.
“Because this was a big opportunity for him, we wanted to let him do that,” said Friday Night Lights producer Jason Katims. “We’ll stay in close contact with production and try to get him for as many episodes as possible,” he added.
Friday Night Lights current airs on DirecTV.