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E4 series Misfits first launched in 2009 and offered up a teen comedy-drama like no other. The show followed a group of juvenile miscreants doing community service when they were struck by lightning and ended up with superpowers. The Channel 4 show catapulted its relatively unknown cast into the spotlight – but why did actor Robert Sheehan depart as Nathan Young?
Why did Robert Sheehan really leave Misfits?
BAFTA-winning series Misfits saw Sheehan portraying the eccentric and larger-than-life character of Nathan, who provided the much-needed comic relief when things got a little to hairy in the show.
He was a fan-favourite thanks to his hilarious antics which often landed him in trouble.
Sheehan departed Misfits after only two seasons, a move which would later prompt a mass exodus of the rest of the cast in the subsequent series.
To round off Nathan’s story, Channel 4 made a short film in which Nathan was seen living the big life in Las Vegas with his girlfriend Marnie (Gwyneth Keyworth).
Nathan had switched up his power for a new one which allowed him to perform magic tricks for real.
The pair had become new parents with Nathan helping to raise Marnie’s infant after the pair fell in love.
Speaking about leaving Misfits, Sheehan said his decision came well before season two had finished production.
He also rubbished rumours he had exited to work on big films, explaining to Digital Spy in 2011: “I left Misfits to go off and do other stuff, completely unspecific.
“I just left because a rolling stone gathers no moss, as they say, and I just wanted to p*** off and do other things, you know?
“It’s nice that the show’s successful but it doesn’t mean complete blind and unadmonished loyalty, ‘If something is very successful you should stick to it like a barnacle!’ That’s definitely not my thinking.”
He added: “Yeah. If something’s good I’ll do it down the back of a pub, you know? It doesn’t matter if it’s on a big cinema screen.”
The Irish actor admitted he was “flattered” by the fan outcry at his decision to leave the show but put it down to the Misfits’ very vocal online community.
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Speaking more recently to the outlet in 2015, he said it was a “no-brainer” at the time to leave because he was “restless” and eager to do new projects.
He also admitted he hadn’t watched Misfits since bowing out and so didn’t have an opinion about the ending.
Sheehan subsequently went on to feature in the big screen adaptation of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, Love/Hate, Fortitude and Genius.
Ironically, his most high-profile role since departing from Misfits is playing another wayward superhero in Netflix’s adaptation of The Umbrella Academy.
Sheehan was replaced in Misfits by This Is England and Brassic actor Joseph Gilgun as Rudy Wade, who brought a slightly different vein of comedy with his arrival.
Sheehan hailed Gilgun, saying he was “brilliant and funny and hilarious” and the “fifth member of the gang”.
After Sheehan left, he was followed by Iwan Rheon, Antonia Thomas and Lauren Socha with Nathan Stewart-Jarrett being the only member to stay one further season before moving on.
Misfits saw something of a cast overhaul with Karla Crome, Nathan McMullan, Matt Stokoe and Natasha O’Keeffe joining.
The original cast of Misfits have since gone on to do other projects with Rheon transforming into the villainous Ramsay Bolton in HBO’s Game of Thrones.
Thomas is now a firm fixture in ABC’s medical drama The Good Doctor with Freddie Highmore.
Lauren Socha has established herself as a sitcom star with performances in Catastrophe and The Wrong One.
While Stewart-Jarrett has shown his versatility in the likes of Dracula and The Trial of Christine Keeler.
Misfits seasons 1 to 5 are streaming on Netflix UK now
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