Thanks to Daniel for the heads up.
Forget about murder -- there's a much bigger mystery to be solved this season on Castle. Although the long-running ABC procedural still has legions of fans, the show has yet to be renewed for an eighth season, due at least somewhat in part to the fact that the show's stars, Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic, haven't signed new contracts to continue.
Unfortunately, it sounds like the decision may come down to the wire. "It's been weird. The last five months have been limbo," cast member Seamus Dever, whose contract is also up, tells TVGuide.com. "I don't know [what's] going to happen, and, to be honest, no one has talked to me ... about next season. I'd like to have some answers because my family wants to know if I'm going to be employed. But right now it's really up in the air."
Unfortunately, it sounds like the decision may come down to the wire. "It's been weird. The last five months have been limbo," cast member Seamus Dever, whose contract is also up, tells TVGuide.com. "I don't know [what's] going to happen, and, to be honest, no one has talked to me ... about next season. I'd like to have some answers because my family wants to know if I'm going to be employed. But right now it's really up in the air."
Source:
I'd like an eighth and ninth season. Castle, despite its age, is still one of the finest and most watchable procedurals ever produced. But unfortunately that means nothing when money is involved - which is inevitable in contract disputes.
ReplyDeleteTo be hoenst I am getting a bit bored with Castle now...I am sure I'd watch it if it's renewed, but equally if it isn't I am OK with that too.
ReplyDeleteWell now I'm not very optimistic we get another season. Plus Stana answered some fan questions on twitter the other day and there was one tweet that indicated that season 7 might be the last.
ReplyDeleteI don't really think that this is about money. Maybe I'm biased towards the actors, but both NF and SK seemed to me persons with two legs on the ground, knowing their market value pretty well. It means that I doubt they would want a TBBT-scaled salary and Castle is IMHO fares well enough that a 3-5k level would be accepteble to the studio. Not to mention that with the fail of Forever Castle remained their only really versatile whole-filler show, which repeats can be inserted into almost any slot in case of an emergency.
ReplyDeleteHowever I don't think that there will be an S8, from the news it seems that at least one of the stars (though I think both of them) would like to quit. Paul Lee practically obliged himself with the show during the TCA, so the ball IMHO is at the actors. Nathan had told multiple times since S5 that he wants the show ends while it's on its high notes, not when they aren't watched. He also has some health problems with his back, wants a lighter workload.
Stana was more cryptic, but unlike her interviews from previous seasons when she was absolutley positive about how many good things they had ahead, now she only said that IF there are compelling stories then yeah, it COULD BE continued.
Both of them had their own projects under development, which requires time. Not just time for shooting but being involved in the preparations, which doesn't really fit with the 14-16 hours workdays from July to April. In case of Stana there is also the age problem: if she wants to play certain roles, she can't postpone them forever and - even though she is very closed about her private life - at the age of 37 she might want to have a family of her own as well.
To me the most likely interpretetion of the present situation (what is said and what remained unsaid) is that there is a definite NO from the actors side, but it won't be published at least untill they are working, maybe till the finale. The last thing what anybody involved wants are crazy fans rioting around the studio or the location filmings.
It's ALWAYS about the money. And I get it honestly. Why should the network be th only one who gets something from the cake.
ReplyDeleteAnd wasn't Nathan Fillion the one who stayed away from set because he only wanted to work four days a week? Or did I get something wrong?
As long as we get another full final season to wrap it up,i'm good.
ReplyDeleteIt's always about the money: in the sense that in almost every case there is a sum which could change even the most determined mind, it's true.
ReplyDeleteHowever I don't think that this can be simplified to this. If somebody already has enough money to do what they want, they can be paid to do something what they DON'T want, but it's not necessarily worth for the production. Yeah, sure getting an Ashton Kutcher-sized paycheck could change their mind, but Castle is a show slowly slipping down to the permanent lower 1s rating, so it's out of the question.
Regarding NF: As I wrote above, he has serious back problems which requires treatment and occasionally adjusting the schedule to his present state. AFAIK the last year ruckus was related to this requests, not to money. It was a failure of the studio and the production reps that they let it fester to that point. According to unanonymous feedbacks NF is one of the easiest actor in the industry, loved and supported by anyone who have ever worked him, I doubt that suddenly he became an over-egotastic duchebag, ruining the work of a whole team without some good reason.
"According to unanonymous feedbacks NF is one of the easiest actor in the
ReplyDeleteindustry, loved and supported by anyone who have ever worked him"
That's why this whole thing surprised me. So it was just a matter of poor communication. Thanks for clearing that up.
Season 7 as the last would be fine by me. If the show gets renewed, Season 8 can work as the end too. I've just been the feeling that it's time for the show end soon.
ReplyDeleteSince I´m sure s7 will be the last, I´m ok with it...since everything is wrapped up and we have a satisfactory ending! If by miracle there´s a s8 I´ll be very happy and of course I´ll watch:)
ReplyDeleteto be honest, I'm really bored with the show this season. Have downloaded but not yet watched the last 7 episodes. Apparently I'm not alone bc the ratings have dropped massively.
ReplyDeleteWhere did you read that there will be a satisfactory ending for Season 7? Do you have the link for it?
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't blame it on NF if the show ended. I doubt I'd be the only one. Not everyone who watches Castle is stupid. Sure the fandom has some basket cases in it, but there are reasonable people too.
ReplyDeleteTrue. But majority will blame on NF because majority are fans of Stana/Beckett. She can't do no wrong in their eyes. And with NF's web series taking off, these people are already calling for his head.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about anywhere else but on Tumblr, that's what I see and it's frustrating.
I think it should be the last the actors don't seem interested so its better to end it on a high note than drag it. Same for bones they were amazing at their time but now :(
ReplyDeleteConsidering the first season was only 10 episodes, show should've had longer shelf life. They definitely shot themselves at the end of S6. ABC desperately needs a procedural and for the most part, it's one of the more watchable ones.
ReplyDeleteSeamus actually mentions that they seem to be leading to some sort of cliffhanger in the article:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.tvguide.com/news/mega-buzz-castle-renewal-season-8/
Perhaps surprisingly because of the situation, it sounds like the end of the season will involve some uncertainty rather than wrapping things up. "I think we are headed toward to some sort of cliff-hanger. We go back into the Beckett mythology and that might play strongly in the end,"
Thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteStana is just as openly diverges from the show as Nathan.
ReplyDeleteShe has two books to make feature films with her own production company. She told multiple times how much 9 months of being the same character sucks out her creative energy. Last summer, after the S6 finale fiasco she gave an interview in Greece where she completely lacked any enthusiasm about what the writers would want to do. It was a strong contrast because before she had always been 100% positive, excited about what the story could bring.
It doesn't mean that rabid "fans" won't throw insults around, blaming only one party, but I'm sure (sadly) that in that case Stana will get her fair share too. Which is a shame and tells volume about the selfishness of those fans.
I suppose I didn´t make myself clear...when I say satisfactory ending that´s what I hope we get, not what I know:)
ReplyDeleteBecause I know as much as anyone else:)
Not me, I won´t.
ReplyDeleteThe Castle mythology was too much for me so I have pretty much dropped the show. But I there is no way they don't get the actors to sign on for a at least one more year. And if either Stana or Nathan say that that they don't want to continue after S8, then ABC should announce S8 as final season when they renew it so fans can prepare.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I'm trying to say. Both leads ARE losing interest in the show but these Stana 'fans' aren't seeing that. They still think their queen is the only one between the two giving 200%.
ReplyDeleteThe Stana fans are more vocal than the NF fans so if the show does end this season, you'll hear from the Stana fans and what you're gonna hear is "It's all NF's fault. He got the show cancel."
I"m sure there are Stana fans out there who are sane and appreciate both leads but we'll hear more from the rabid fans which is the shame.
I"m not saying you're wrong or disagreeing with you but I'm just saying this is the most likely scenario to happen and I'll feel very sorry for NF 'cause he's gonna get the hate from them. :(
(Btw, I have nothing against Stana. I'm more of a NF fan than her but it's sad that majority of the fans and the writers for that matter aren't giving him the credit he deserves).
To me the writers screwed up the so called Caste mythology. I HATE that they put so much emphasis on Beckett and her mythology but hardly paid any attention to Castle's.
ReplyDeleteI mean, we only had 2 eps on it this whole season?!
Given the fact they are seemingly having a cliffhanger for finale, I think that Castle will probably come back for a shortened final season. It does look like Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic have other projects lined up so maybe less episodes will be something ABC will do for them. If however the show does end this year I hope fans don't start placing blame on one or both actors. They both have committed a lot of time to show and it is possible they just want to move on, no matter how much money ABC is willing to give them. if that's the case they would still have plenty of time to change finale or delay it to make it less of a cliffhanger and give more closure
ReplyDeleteOne apparent reason behind the different approach IMHO is that to NF Castle was a good gig, but after the first two seasons it wasn't his heart and soul. (Which I can completely understand, that's when they started to turn him into a clumsy clown with very limited acting chances.) He was often scolded that if he wasn't a guest especially because of Castle, he rarely mentioned anything positive about it in talkshows, while he was always ready to rave about eg. Firefly. Most of his present fandom came from his earlier projects and - maybe because his attitude - has always hoped that he returns to his "geekier" side. Most of them are neither afraid of his future without Castle, nor sad that he will move on.
ReplyDeleteStana on the other hand made fame in this show. Fans want this stay on air, because it is very unlikely that she would get another similar size role in the near future. Not because her lack of talent, but because she IS Beckett, no other mentionable roles are behind her. (NB: I'm almost completely sure that she doesn't even target another protagonist in the near future if she finally escapes.) I'm absolutley sure that she will have plenty of offers after Castle, but for the fans it will not be the weekly dose.
You are 110% correct in your assessment. Perfectly written. I am so glad I can see Nathan at cons and thank him each time for all the time and effort he puts into the show Season 8 or not.
ReplyDeleteThis has been the least focused season ever. it lacked direction of any kind. Case in point, Castle's abduction which should have been in ep. 7.04 will be addressed in ep 20!!! REALLY!!! Who laid out this cockeyed plan for the season. Makes no sense what so ever. Does anyone care anymore?
ReplyDeleteI hope they won't sign. Based on the tendencies in S8 Castle would bring a 1.3 average, with an about 1.0 season minimum. This is very close to the cancellation level on its own right. (If ABC gets as lucky as it was this year and will have more than one new show with good ratings, than it's even below.) I don't wish them to leave on a note that "Yeah, this was a show which once was watched."
ReplyDeleteIf I were Nathan and was given material like the stuff since s5, my heart and soul wouldn't be in it either. Lol.
ReplyDeleteThough I do agree that Nathan has been quite dismissive of the show in recent years and ardent fans of the show will feel offended by his attitude - especially when you have a co-star who has a complete different attitude towards the show (but do you blame her? This show made her. While Nathan on the other hand was already made).
Oh well. I guess we'll see how it goes. Hopefully there be a good resolution to the show. End it soon before it gets too late.
There is a lack of focus, remember how this season was to be about Rick Castle. How many fans out there have learned anything new about RC.
ReplyDeleteWe are on the same platform. I must admit that even though I started to watch the show because of Stana and now she is the only reason why I hasn't left it completely, the reason of my disappointment was how the Marlowe ripped off Castle. When in last season, after the two-parter Marlowe threw that remark that how good it was seeing him really playing, they had almost forgotten how good an actor he is, I wanted to punch him with something hard and heavy because whose fault is it if an actor has nothing to play?
ReplyDeleteThis is the least focused season ever. Remember how we were going to learn RC's backstory, I'm still waiting. I understand RC's abduction will be addressed again in ep. 20. REALLY. Why wasn't it addressed in ep. 7.04 when everyone was interested, not 18 eps. later after it was effectively inexplicably buried.
ReplyDeleteStill my favorite show, but I hope this is the last season. Almost everything is wrapped up. All I want is a satisfying finale and I'll be happy.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy this season, especially the P.I. arc that was my favorite. It was a really interesting way to shake things up.
I too have loved this season. The PI arc was fun and we will be finding out about the
ReplyDeleteCastle disappearance. IT took 6 seasons (about 2 eps per season) for the
Beckett mommy story to be told so what is the big hoopla about Castles story
having only being touched on twice this season. Equal time for both of the leads.
Did we ever learn what happened to Castle when he was missing, if we did I must have missed it, can anyone fill me in?
ReplyDeleteSorry, one more thought about the quality of the material. I think the top of this season was the two parter, thanks to the Michael Mosley-Annie Wersching duo. Wersching is one year older than Stana and hasn't got a lead role yet.
ReplyDeleteBut just in this season she played the icecold Kelly Nieman, the carreer-pursuing uni officer Julia Brash in Bosch, had a recurring role in Extant and now in The Vampire Diaries. Completely different roles, great chances for an actress to show her claws. I wish Stana these choices instead of being a character whose hair is the most memorable perk.
I'm telling you the show is gonna end like JOshua Gomez said in the ep he guested in: Beckett goes into politics Castle starts to write serious literature. NOt sure about the 3 kids though.
ReplyDeleteBut think it is about trying to keep the show fresh. Not just about money. As when you are in beyond a fifth season, it begins to get dry if you know what I mean.
ReplyDeleteYup!
ReplyDeleteOnly 2 episodes on Castle's mystery? Do we have to wait till the season finale to find out what happened to him?
I'm getting a feeling (and this is pure speculation BTW) that Nathan and Stana might be only willing to sign "final" season contracts, but the show hoping they can get them for two... and therefore they might be asking for quite a lot for the extended commitment. Contract standoffs kinda bug me... but I get it...
ReplyDelete