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‘Castle’ stars Stana Katic, Tamala Jones leaving ABC show ahead of possible 9th season
April 18, 2016 By Frank Lovece Special to Newsday
ABC's "Castle" star Stana Katic will not be returning to the show, Deadline.com has reported. Here, the actress arrives at the 2016 Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, Calif., on Saturday, Feb., 27, 2016. (Credit: Getty Images)
With the fate of a possible ninth season undetermined, “Castle” producer ABC Studios is not renewing the contracts of series co-star Stana Katic and supporting actress Tamala Jones.
Deadline.com reported Monday that Katic, 37 — who plays NYPD homicide detective Kate Beckett opposite Nathan Fillion as mystery novelist and sleuth Richard Castle — and Jones, 41, who portrays medical examiner Lanie Parish, would not return. The site said budgetary considerations were the reasons.
Katic told Deadline, “Rather than distract from what was an amazing experience, I would just like to say that I’m very grateful to ABC for giving me the opportunity to be a part of a much beloved show. Thank you to the fans.”
Jones also thanked fans and ABC, and told the site, “I’ve had so much fun playing the wonderful and unfiltered Lanie over the past eight seasons. I will greatly miss the cast and crew — it’s been a privilege getting to work with this incredibly hard working group of people . . . It’s been an incredible journey and I can’t wait for what lies ahead!” She later tweeted that the show had “been an amazing ride! Family is what we are & I love u all!!!”
The show’s network, ABC, said in a statement, “Kate Beckett has been a beloved character on our hit series ‘Castle’ for the past 8 years. We are grateful for Stana Katic’s talent and dedication to the series and we hope to continue our relationship. Tamala Jones has also been an integral part of the series and we are grateful she was a part of Castle.”
The Season 8 finale, “Crossfire,” is scheduled to air May 16. Showrunners Alexi Hawley and Terence Paul Winter told TVLine.com Saturday that they were preparing an alternate version that could serve as a series finale.
We have crafted a final scene that would exist only if we weren’t coming back,” Hawley said, “one that we don’t really want to get into . . . ,” he began.
“ . . . because our hope is that it never airs,” Winter finished.
I think they may have had an idea this was going to happen sooner or later. I can see this show continuing without either of them because the specific coroner is not integral to the story lines, and Beckett has been taking a back seat to the story lines for a while, plus with the whole "Richard Castle Investigations" angle it could move from being "police centered" to being "P.I. centered".
She's a main character. I don't know how they expect it to work without her. It would be like no Booth on Bones.
Or Dean without Sam.
I think 12 will be the last for them.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
I've never watched Castle, but I understand the loss of a loved show.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
While I love Beckett & Caskett I would still give it a shot if it is renewed. Lanie didn't get much screen time this season but I didn't really care. I'm fine if they bring back Perlmutter.
I agree that this season has been below par but the last few episodes were good IMO.