He was not beating a dead horse but actor Nathan Fillion was just sad that for the first time in eight years, they were no longer filming for the American crime drama TV series “Castle” immediately after the San Diego ComicCon held in July.
Season 9 of “Castle” would have premiered on ABC by this time if not for the network abruptly ending the show after Season 8.
While the network was saying that the TV series was not canceled but merely ended, the fact that ABC switched its decision from a Season 9 renewal to eventual cancellation means that “Castle” was not extended after Season 8. That is the long and short of it.
It would have been surreal to have “Castle” airing a season without Kate Beckett, played by Stana Katic, on it, but Nathan Fillion, who plays Rick Castle, said that the show could still very well take off.
He said that prior to the switcheroo decision of ABC not to renew the show for a ninth season, there were already plans by the showrunners to have that time jump after the Season 8 finale where Beckett would either die or simply disappear.
Fillion disclosed that all talks about Season 9 production ceased when ABC confirmed it will no longer be moving forward with the series, reports the Parent Herald.
Not interested in coming back
Contrary to reports that ABC did not renew the contract of Stana Katic for Season 9 of “Castle,” sources claim that she was allowed to renegotiate with the network but she seems no longer interested to come back.
It is possible that the offer made to her was not commensurate to her worth to the TV series so that’s when Katic decided to just let go. Only she and Tamala Jones were not given contract renewals after Season 8 so it is likely that money played a part in the negotiation.
Another possibility being looked at is the supposed conflict between Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic on the set and the two apparently can no longer work well together, despite their on-cam chemistry.
But judging from their social media pronouncements, it seems that nothing is wrong between the two stars or they are just being actors that they are.
The show needed a proper send-off
The Season 8 finale of “Castle” aired on May 16 on ABC and it surprised a whole lot of fans because it seems that the happy ending was abrupt and a bit forced.
Weeks before the final episode of Season 8, there have been reports saying that ABC has renewed the show for a ninth season minus Stana Katic and Tamala Jones, whose contracts were not renewed.
The decision of the network to have a Season 9 for “Castle” came about because Fillion, who played Rick Castle, and other stars of the TV series including Molly Quinn, Toks Olagundoye, Susan Sullivan, Seamus Dever, and Jon Huertas all have one year left on their respective contracts.
However, some five days before the airing of the final Season 8 episode of “Castle,” the network has told the producers that they are reconsidering their decision to extend the TV series to a ninth season.
As a result, the executive producers had to scramble to come up with an improvised episode to show that “Castle” would have a happy ending.
So keen viewers would have noticed that after the LokSat mystery was solved during the Season 8 finale episode, there was a time jump of seven years to show that Rick Castle and Kate Beckett, were already enjoying their happily ever after as a married couple along with their three kids.
Shortly after the Season 8 finale, there came reports that a Season 9 is once again being reconsidered by ABC for possible airing in the fall of this year.