The article contains spoilers for All American season 6, episode 13, "Draft Day."

Summary

• Daniel Ezra will not return as a regular in All American season 7 but will make guest appearances as Spencer James.
• The departure was a creative decision, not a budget cut.
• Spencer's farewell episode sees him winning the Super Bowl for his team and proposing to Olivia.

All American season 7, the show will be missing a crucial presence.

Deadline confirms that Daniel Ezra will not be returning to All American season 7 as a series regular, though he will continue to make guest appearances in the role of Spencer James. Ahead of the season 6 finale, which will air on July 15, the sports drama is expected to focus on the wedding of Spencer and Olivia Baker (Samantha Logan). The departure is described as a creative decision from both Ezra and showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll, who felt Spencer had reached the end of his story, and not a budget cut. Read Ezra's statement below:

“After making the difficult decision to leave All American, my sole focus became completing the journey of the most life-affirming character I’ve ever played in the manner he deserves. Thanks to Nkechi and the writers, I got my wish. Season six is ‘Spencer’s goodbye.’ I’ll miss him. I’ll miss our cast and crew. I hope it’s been as fun to watch him as it has been to play him.”

How All American Wrote Off Spencer James

Ezra's Character Gets A Fitting Farewell

It's the end of an era for All American's true story origins, as Ezra's character was positioned as the main protagonist and the one the sports drama has been positioned around.

Spencer's farewell episode, "Draft Day," begins on a less-than-ideal note. His chances of getting drafted to the NFL seem to be slipping away due to some leaked audio where Spencer is critiquing the process. Although he's momentarily defeated, and upset that the audio leaked, Spencer's fortunes turn around before he makes his final bow as a main character.

"Draft Day" is written by Mike Herro & David Strauss and directed by Dawn Wilkinson.

A ten-month time jump, before the end of "Draft Day," shows Spencer playing in the NFL. He's not only one of the players in the large league. Instead, he's the player who clinches the Super Bowl win for his team, the fictional New York Bobcats, becoming the first win in the team's history. But it's not the only feel-good moment, as Spencer proposes to his girlfriend Olivia on the field after the game.

It's the end of an era for All American's true story origins, as Ezra's character was positioned as the main protagonist and the one the sports drama has been positioned around. But as the long-running CW hit moves on to its next chapter, it will likely have the space to spend more of the spotlight on other characters while still checking in on Spencer for guest appearances.

Source: Deadline