Paul Schneider will exit NBC’s Parks & Rec at the end of the season, The Los Angeles Times has learned.
Schneider, who plays City Planner Mark Brendanawicz on the popular comedy, is departing the show to focus on his burgeoning film career, Parks and Recreation co-creator and executive producer Mike Schur told The Times Monday.
“In the wake of Bright Star and winning a lot of awards. Paul now has this film career that is just taking off in a big way. And the movie opportunities he’s getting are incredibly cool, interesting movies, not the summer blockbuster movies that can be scheduled around TV actors when they need to be… But the goal and the aim is to have him come back as soon as his schedule permits and as soon as the arcs we’re writing call for it.”
Schur promises to leave the door open for Schneider to return to the program in the future.
“He’s not going to be killed in some weird accident….”
Rob Lowe and Adam Scott are poised to join the cast of Parks and Recreation when the show kicks off its third season on NBC next fall.