NATHAN FILLION, STANA KATIC.(ABC/Richard Cartwright)
ABC has said the Castle TV series could continue for a ninth season, without stars Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic. While executive producers Alexi Hawley and Terence Paul Winter are open to a spin-off with new leads, they have made it clear to TV Guide, that they would prefer a ninth season of Castle, with the stars returning.
Fillion developed a devoted fan following, while starring in Joss Whedon’s Firefly — cancelled by FOX, in its first season. The relationship between his character, novelist Richard Castle, and Katic’s NYPD Captain, Kate Beckett, has been heavily featured throughout Castle‘s run. While the network and EPs are considering a spin-off without the pair, will fans be receptive?
Here is more from TV Guide [emphasis ours]:
“If we had our choice, it would be the same cast, it would be the same show,” Hawley tells TVGuide.com “We’ve done some fun stuff this year so that it has a little different energy that could absolutely carry through to a Season 9. But both of us are very invested in this, and we understand that Castle has always been about Beckett and Castle. So the idea of that not happening is daunting, and we’re rooting against that.“
Still, Hawley tells TV Guide he and co-showrunner Winter are “exited” to continue the story, even if the stars depart the long-running crime drama series. The EPs believe there is a “lot of life” left in Castle.
Hawley remains mindful of the fact that the eighth season finale will have to provide some closure for fans, in case Fillion and Katic opt out of a ninth season. He talks to TV Guide about writing a season eight finale for Castle that could serve, if it must, as a Castle series finale, yet teases Castle season nine:
Hawley also suggests that, like last year, the show may have to craft a finale that ends both the season and the series. (“In a perfect world, we’ll have clarity going into the end of the season,” he says. “Obviously, there wasn’t clarity last season until the very, very end.”) But Hawley says that wrapping up ongoing mysteries — including Castle’s missing time and Season 8’s LokSat saga — was always the plan.
“LokSat is definitely getting resolved at the end of this year,” Hawley says. “Our hope was to take all the threads — the conspiracies, Sen. Bracken, Castle’s missing time– and really tie them off in a compelling, satisfying way, so that in Season 9 we can tell really compelling standalone stories and leave the conspiracy part of it behind. I think ultimately those stories are about played-out.”
Are you a fan of ABC’s Castle TV show? Do you hope that Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic return for a ninth season? What do you think about a spin-off, without the stars? Sound off, in the comments.
The only thing that needs to be replaced in Castle this year is the show runner Hawley. I never seen a person working so hard at getting in the unemployment line. Fox really work hard at getting Firefly cancelled, now it is ABC is working real hard to do the same thing to Castle. As far as a spin off of the show it will never work without both Fillion and Katic. Castle has been off so long that alot of the folks moved over to NCIS LA, it is turning into what Castle was.Our show runners say they would… Read more »
Castle has been an enjoyable show since it began…the perfect blend of comedy and drama. The show needs to stay with both Castle and Kate on board. The recent story lines (in the fall 2015 season) were not as good as the earlier shows. One has to ask, “were the writers and cast trying to get cancelled”? Hopefully they will return in February with a refreshed spirit. Keep “Castle” on ABC, thanks!
I don’t think I would be interested in a series without Caskett. Although I dearly love the rest of the cast, the two main characters hold my attention. Replacing the stars would kill my interest, too.
This season has been very difficult to enjoy. The show runners insist that they’ve inserted all of this fun into the show, but I’ve struggled to see it. I truly believe it was their choices that caused the show to lose the PCA vote this year. Lots of unhappy fans.
I would not watch Castle without BOTH leads. The lovestory is the heart and soul of this show and has been since the first episode. Someone needs to remind this seasons showrunners tho, since they have been trying to already prepare viewers for ‘Castle PI’ and ruining Caskett. There is no way to end this story in a satisying way for those of us who have watched 8 yrs if only one lead comes back.
IF KATE AND RICK CASTLE ARE TAKEN OFF SHOW I WILL NO LONGER WATCH SEASON 9. THAT’S JUST CRAZY ARE YOU RENAMING SHOW? IT’S CALLED CASTLE FOR GOD’S SAKE. WHAT ARE YOU GUYS THINKING.
I have been a faithful watcher of Castle from the beginning and it is my favorite program. I do feel like the first few episodes of Season 8 were a little off, but now it seems to be back on track. Understanding if Nathan and Stana want to leave the show, but really like the thought of continuing as a spin-off. Love Mike Rochen’s suggestion i.e., Alexis, Ryan and Espo workinging together. Would love to see Espo and Lanie be “the couple” pm the program.
I want to know what is sooo difficult in keeping Castle, along with the whole original cast, going? We have many shows such as Bones, NCIS, Law and Order, etc. that have been long running. Castle has been one of the best shows produced and the powers that be seem to be intent on ending it. Why is that? I will watch Castle as long as the WHOLE cast continues to be involved, especially Stana and Nathan.
The Powers-That-Be want to keep Castle going. They’re not sure if the stars want to return.
I think the ratings are down by half, the writers see.to be watching past X-File shows and incorporating some parts into season 8 plots! Plus, both star got pay raises! I hope it is canceled because it would very difficult to go back to the Castle of season 1-6 given the crazy plot twists of seasons 7 & 8!
I agree. In our house we can’t wait to see another episode each week with original actors and the original concept to the story. Keep the “Heat” coming between Castle and Beckett, they are so good together, hate to loose the program as it was originally designed to be. Is somebody who runs the show up there listening to the fans of this show??
The writers/producer are the ones that RUINED the show. had they kept to the ORIGINAL premise with ORIGINAL cast, and the way it was the first few seasons, there would BE NO need to change it, or make a spin-off. I like ALL the characters AS IS, Martha, Alexis, and the other 2 detectives. As far as I’m concerned, the show went DOWN hill after Castle & Beckett got married. It wasn’t the pairing itself, I like them together, but they split them apart, and took the show in TOO MANY different directions. Why do procedurals do that? Why fix… Read more »
I’ve watched the show since the first episode I haven’t been this kind of intense fan of any show in years. I hated the changes earlier this season and feel it was an attempt to kill the show. If Fillion and Katic are written out of the show, I doubt I’d watch it without them. If Fillion and Katic kill the show by refusing to sign new contacts and the series ends without closure, I don’t think I’d enjoy either them in future projects unless their acting was absolutely superb. I’d love the show to continue but if it has… Read more »
My understanding is they won’t be written out of the show; the actors may just be done with it.
Oh noooo…the horror a long running show(in these days standards of long) with it’s typical couple might end and be replace with the same thing.
If they go, I go. I didn’t start watching Castle to see the show go on without the main two characters. Love Espo and Ryan, and Martha and Alexis. But if Castle and Beckett are to be off the show, then I hate to say it but season 8 needs to be the last one. The writers/producers made this mess.
The show runners say they want the show to continue into season 9, but do they really? They have done everything they could do to run the ratings into the ground. The one thing they could not do, they did with the split and separation of Rick and Kate and it still continues into episode 9. That just makes a old fan think they just do not care. You the show runners had so many other ways to go but didn’t. So stop and let the few remaining shows be a good thing for all the old fans that watched… Read more »
I’ve watch since day one and love the show. The total cast is great but without Nathan(Richard Castle) there is no show. I won’t watch!!!!
I will not watch Castle without the stars.
I have been a fan of Castle since the pilot, and I want the show to continue into Season 9 with the current cast telling these stories that they tell so well. While the cases are almost always interesting, it has been the interactions between the various characters has been what has kept me coming back for 8 seasons. Without the two stars, this would be a completely different show. It remains to be seen whether or not it would be any good. I’d certainly give it a try b/c I like these characters so much. Personally, I would eventually… Read more »