It’s unclear whether the fictional author turned private detective Richard Castle will continue to fight crime another day, but if he does it will be with two fewer people in his corner—and Castle fandom is not happy about it.
Deadline is reporting that Stana Katic (Kate Beckett) and Tamala Jones (Lanie Parish) will not be returning to Castle for its ninth season, which is in the works and has yet to be renewed by ABC. The two actresses found out the news last week and were cut due to “budgetary reasons,” and Katic’s departure comes after she had signed a one-year contract for season 8; star Nathan Fillion is still negotiating to return for a shortened season 9.
Katic didn’t comment on the circumstances behind the departure (and has yet to comment on social media), but according to TV Line’s Michael Ausiello, it wasn’t her decision.
“Rather then [sic] 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. “Thank you to the fans.”
Said Jones: “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. Thank you to ABC for this opportunity and to the fans for their unwavering support. It’s been an incredible journey and I can’t wait for what lies ahead!”
I just wanted to thank you all @ABCNetwork ,Cast& Crew & CastleFandom.. It’s been an amazing ride! Family is what we are & I love u all!!!😘😘
— TAMALA RENEÉ JONES (@tamalajones) April 18, 2016
ABC confirmed the departures in a statement released to Deadline.
“Kate Beckett has been a beloved character on our hit series Castle for the past 8 years,” ABC said. “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.”
Seeing a lead of a long-running show leave at the end of a season (or not return) isn’t uncommon, especially as the series continues. But in Katic’s case, her sudden departure is leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of Castle fans—as well as the people who’ve worked closely with her during the past eight years.
It doesn’t appear that some members of the Castle cast were informed of these departures before it was published online. Regardless of who knew beforehand, they were sad to see their colleagues leave the show—with Andrew W. Marlowe, a former showrunner, noting that he was “Heartbroken.”
What else is sad???!!!! That I have to find this out online!!! This is my family! Why couldn’t someone have told me #InADifferentWay ?!
— Jon Huertas 🇺🇸🇵🇷⚛ (@jonhuertas) April 18, 2016
And I am gonna miss @Stana_Katic & @tamalajones who are more than coworkers to me but dear friends. #Heartbroken
— Jon Huertas 🇺🇸🇵🇷⚛ (@jonhuertas) April 18, 2016
Ok…… So, here’s the thing: I know NOTHING. The info I have I have from @Deadline. Believe you me I wish I knew more. In addition:
— Toks Olagundoye (@ToksOlagundoye) April 18, 2016
Sad day for the #Castle fam as we know it. @Stana_Katic, you made every episode I joined a huge ball of joy. Love you, my fellow traveler. 😘
— Juliana Dever (@CleverDever) April 18, 2016
.@tamalajones – TY4 delivering my fake baby. You’re an incredible woman and I will follow you wherever you may go. Love you, babe. #Castle
— Juliana Dever (@CleverDever) April 18, 2016
Oh man. @Stana_Katic has been a good partner and a good friend for the last eight years. Thank you, Stana.
— Seamus Dever (@seamusdever) April 18, 2016
And @tamalajones is such a good actor. We haven’t seen 1/10th of what she can do. Can’t wait to see what role she does next.
— Seamus Dever (@seamusdever) April 18, 2016
I’m hearing the news with the rest of you. Shocked. Saddened. And SO grateful I got to spend the time with @Stana_Katic that I did. #Castle
— Sunkrish Bala (@sunkrishbala) April 18, 2016
Very sad to hear about @Stana_Katic and @tamalajones. It was an absolute pleasure to work with you both. Speechless…#Castle
— Erik Altstadt (@EAkorn) April 18, 2016
Heartbroken. There are no words. #nmc
— Andrew W. Marlowe (@AndrewWMarlowe) April 18, 2016
However, for the fans, it’s more than just losing two beloved female characters on a long-running procedural drama—especially for Katic’s character, who’s seen as the heart of the show.
Kate Beckett is an integral part of Castle. She’s an ace New York Police Department detective who ends up being Castle’s muse. The darkness in her past drives some of the show’s overarching plots, and she is one-half of Caskett, the show’s premiere ship. For a few seasons, there was flirty banter between the two characters, and the characters eventually pulled a Moonlighting and got together.
Some fans would rather ABC end Castle than try to make a shortened season without Beckett; some called for its cancellation.
Petition to euthanize “aging procedurals” before they piss off fans. Hugs to the #castle fandom. https://t.co/Qh2nHOXTQy
— Kathleen Smith (@fangirltherapy) April 18, 2016
I have supported this show for ages but even I can’t and won’t support a #Castle season 9 without @Stana_Katic and @tamalajones. Ridiculous.
— Lisa Caputo 🇨🇦 (@Lisa_Caputo) April 18, 2016
It’s a heartbreaking day today. #Castle without @Stana_Katic and @tamalajones is unfathomable. ABC made a horrid “business decision” here.
— Lisa Caputo 🇨🇦 (@Lisa_Caputo) April 18, 2016
Remember, TV ladies, even if the ENTIRE show was built on your relationship with the male co-lead, you’re still completely expendable!
— lisa dawn (@itslisae) April 18, 2016
Sorry for the #Castle crew but I hope there won’t be a season 9… Without @Stana_Katic and @tamalajones it is not possible…
— Fred (@FredBC77) April 18, 2016
https://twitter.com/sublimekatic/status/722097970980786176
Next up: Bones to continue without David Boreanaz. BK99 to continue without Andre Braugher. Greys to continue without Meredith Grey. #TVnews
— Cowboy ★ ConStar (@ConStar24) April 18, 2016
I guess the lesson we can take away from this is that the male lead will always be prioritized, no matter what.
— Carly Lane-Perry (@carlylane) April 18, 2016
Other fans are upset that a popular ship will likely be broken up. In a sea of dead female, LGBTQ, and non-white characters on television as of late, people worry that Beckett will soon join them.
In the past few weeks alone fans have had to deal with the sudden deaths of Lexa and Lincoln on The 100, Laurel on Arrow, Denise on The Walking Dead, Abbie Mills on Sleepy Hollow, more on Vampire Diaries, The Americans, The Magicians, The Blacklist, and many others. It’s giving fans the indication that women on TV are disposable—even stars of their own TV shows.
In some of those cases, the actors involved had commitments to other shows, and in the case of Ricky Whittle and Nicole Beharie, there were issues behind the scenes. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Katic had similar issues working on Castle, and she and Fillion reportedly clashed.
Some fans are already predicting death for Beckett. It’s not the only option to write out a character, but any other kind of exit would be tricky for the show to pull off given the romantic ties of its leads.
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What does that mean for the season 8 finale, which airs May 16? Fans will see Castle and Beckett’s lives in jeopardy in an episode that ends on a cliffhanger.
“There’s stuff up in the air, so we are trying to leave it in a very dynamic way which leaves open the possibility that maybe the show won’t come back in the same form next season—although, again, we really hope that it does,” co-showrunner Alexi Hawley told TV Line last week, confirming a scene to end the series that would air only in the event that Castle won’t return next season.
If Castle were to return next season, it would have to win fans over once again—and without some of the characters who got them hooked in the first place.
H/T Deadline
