Stana Katic leaving "Castle" after eight seasons
Long-running procedural "Castle" may or may not be coming back for a ninth season, but if it does, series star Stana Katic won't be a part of it.
While the long-running series was not included in a recent list of ABC series being renewed for next year, the network has announced that Katic, who stars as NYPD detective Kate Beckett opposite Nathan Fillion's crime novelist Rick Castle, will be leaving the show after the current season. Co-star Tamala Jones is also leaving, according to the network.
"Kate Beckett has been a beloved character on our hit series 'Castle' for the past eight years," a spokesman for ABC said in a statement. "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.'"
Sources tell Deadline that the decision was made by the network and its television production studio, and while negotiations have been ongoing with Fillion for a shortened 9th and final season, Katic and Jones were reportedly told that they would not be returning "for budgetary reasons" should those plans move forward.
"Rather then 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," Katic said in a statement to Deadline. "Thank you to the fans."