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.
Best show on television in my opinion. Would not be the same without both of them. Acting is great and a great clean show.
The show is great I say keep it and keep the cast the same they are great and deserve to keep going if NCIS can keep going and it is sometimes just the same story l8 e then so can castle.
Producers: Please keep Castle going. I’ve been a fan of the series since day 1. I will be very disappointed if we don’t get at least one more season. It satisfies both the love of mystery and comedy in one series. However, without Caskett, I don’t see a reason to continue watching.
To the Castle Producers and cast: I have been watching Castle for at least 4 years now. I love the premise of the show, the acting, the stories and the growth of the show/characters. Please do not cancel the show. I so enjoy it and I know many, many fans do as well. I am even reading the books. I honestly believe there is so much more to say in the show.Thank you.
Castle is een really, really great show, its build on the 2 caracters Castle en Beckett, if there,s gonna be a 9the season (what I would really like) it has to be with nathan and stana otherwise there cant be a show called castle, and a spinoff i dont think that will work.
Caskett or nothing
I have watched Castle since day one and love the show. It is my favorite show. I would love a season 9 with the current stars only if Fillion and Katic come back. If not, please just give them their “HAPPILY EVER AFTER”. Castle and Beckett have a love story that took them through a lot and they should end with a happy ending. If you have a spin off, it can’t be called Castle.
Castle is my favorite program!!!! I watch every episode. Please continue this fine program!!!
I would continue to watch Castle with the same stars, if the show would go back to normal (meaning no more Castle and Beckett separation). I would absolutely NOT be interested in watching Castle if the same stars leave the show. It has been bad enough with the ridiculous separation between 2 people that love each other. I don’t understand why Ms. Katic returned to the show if she wanted to remain absent.
I love “Castle” and the whole original cast is important to this show! However, if Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic are not in the show it will no longer be “Castle”! Forget about a spin-off, I will not invest my time in watching it! This was a great show until Andrew Marlowe and Terri Edda Miller left. It could be again if the writers would get back to the original storyline where Castle and Beckett were solving crimes together and were in love with each other.
I agree. Love the original format for the show. Can’t wait to see the next episode. Please continue with the same actors and and keep the same “HEAT” going on between Castle and Beckett!
The answer is simple, if ABC says they will keep the show either way, then simply ask Nathan & Stana what do they want to do. If they want to stay, its a go, if not, finish it now. No Caskett = no show. No spinoff.
I would mind the stars going away from Castle TV Series! The show about them is terrible and they should be written off and have a brother or sister name Castle become a crime fighter or detective or lawyer! Why not?
The show’s name is CASTLE… here is no show without C&B. No spinoffs! Please get C&B back together and have them solve cases, finish each others thoughts, romance, etc. Support with other cast members….include James Brolin and get rid of LokSat. Enough is enough (including time apart for C&B).
We fell in love with the C&B of season 2,3,4…..more of that.
I’ve been a loyal fan of this show for some time now. My wife and myself waited all summer long for season 8 to begin and after episode 8 could care less if we watch the rest of the remaining episodes. The Loksat story arc along with Kate NOT moving back into the loft, Castle still a P.I. And Castle and Beckett not solving cases together leaves me with no hope of a season 9. Also the idea of a spouse striking another spouse is not fun or funny. It may be pretend or just a t.v. show but it’s… Read more »
Castle is my favorite show. No way would it be any good without Castle and Beckett. The whole disappearance of Castle and where he was , was a disappointment. This season hasn’t started out to great either. I don’t know what has happened to the fabulous writers that the show has had from the beginning, but I hope when the show returns in Feb. they are back to their good writing again. Please don’t let this wonderful show end. I think there is a lot more to do with these characters. I wish the actors that play these characters would… Read more »