Update 3:Jon Huertas Returning
One more key Castle player has closed a deal to return if the veteran ABC crime drama is renewed for a ninth season. I’ve learned that Jon Huertas is set to continue as a regular on the show, joining star Nathan Fillion and co-star Seamus Dever. ABC is yet to make a renewal decision on the series as cast contracts are still being hammered out.
Also on track to come back are Castle supporting players Molly Quinn and Toks Olagundoye.
Also on track to come back are Castle supporting players Molly Quinn and Toks Olagundoye.
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Update 2:Seamus Dever Returning
Another key Castle player has closed a deal to return if the veteran ABC crime drama is renewed for a ninth season. I’ve learned that Seamus Dever is set to continue as a regular on the show, joining star Nathan Fillion. ABC was supposed to make a renewal decision by end of day Friday (May 6), but that was postponed as actors deals are still being hammered out.
Dever plays Detective Kevin Ryan, formerly a narcotics division cop, who works alongside Javier Esposito (Jon Huertas). Dever and Huertas had been expected to return for next season, with Huertas’ deal on track to close shortly. Female lead Stana Katic and fellow original cast member Tamala Jones were not asked to come back for Season 9.
Dever plays Detective Kevin Ryan, formerly a narcotics division cop, who works alongside Javier Esposito (Jon Huertas). Dever and Huertas had been expected to return for next season, with Huertas’ deal on track to close shortly. Female lead Stana Katic and fellow original cast member Tamala Jones were not asked to come back for Season 9.
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Update:ABC prolonging renewal decision.
Thanks to Jovan for the heads up.
UPDATE May 6: ABC is prolonging the renewal decision on Castle. I hear the network is pushing the deadline, which was end of day today, May 6.
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It looks like we will know very soon whether ABC’s veteran procedural drama Castle will return for a ninth season. I have learned that the network has until end of day tomorrow, May 6, to make a renewal decision, determining whether the May 16 finale will be branded as a season or series finale and which of the two final scenes shot will make it to air. Regardless, it will be female lead Stana Katic’s last episode on the show.
I hear that star Nathan Fillion has closed a new deal for Season 9. In part to secure that, ABC and ABC Studios opted not to bring back Katic. The move also was driven by budgetary reasons that saw another original cast member, Tamala Jones, exit too. All signs had been pointing to a renewal, possibly for a shortened, 13-episode ninth season at a reduced license fee. “Why would they go through all that trouble and not pick up the show?,” an observer marveled.
So why is ABC waiting until the last second? It’s been hard to find a reasonable explanation beyond the fact that the network is screening its pilots this week, so it would make sense to see all drama pilots before making a decision. Still, despite being on the bubble based on ratings performance, Castle is a legacy show for ABC that makes money for Disney, so its renewal for a likely final chapter should not be tied closely to new series pickups. Another possible reason for the lack of renewal could be the fan backlash to Katic’s ouster but that is something the network brass must have foreseen.
Castle already has a road map for Season 9, drawn by Alexi Hawley and Terence Paul Winter, who joined as showrunners at the beginning of Season 8 and I hear are expected to come back. All key pieces are in place for next season, with the only uncertainty being whether there will be a next season. Observers are optimistic, but we will have a definitive answer within the next 24 hours.
I hear that star Nathan Fillion has closed a new deal for Season 9. In part to secure that, ABC and ABC Studios opted not to bring back Katic. The move also was driven by budgetary reasons that saw another original cast member, Tamala Jones, exit too. All signs had been pointing to a renewal, possibly for a shortened, 13-episode ninth season at a reduced license fee. “Why would they go through all that trouble and not pick up the show?,” an observer marveled.
So why is ABC waiting until the last second? It’s been hard to find a reasonable explanation beyond the fact that the network is screening its pilots this week, so it would make sense to see all drama pilots before making a decision. Still, despite being on the bubble based on ratings performance, Castle is a legacy show for ABC that makes money for Disney, so its renewal for a likely final chapter should not be tied closely to new series pickups. Another possible reason for the lack of renewal could be the fan backlash to Katic’s ouster but that is something the network brass must have foreseen.
Castle already has a road map for Season 9, drawn by Alexi Hawley and Terence Paul Winter, who joined as showrunners at the beginning of Season 8 and I hear are expected to come back. All key pieces are in place for next season, with the only uncertainty being whether there will be a next season. Observers are optimistic, but we will have a definitive answer within the next 24 hours.
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