‘Castle’ Cast Shake-Up — Stana Katic’s Exit Due To Her Despising One Of Her Co-Stars?

Stana Katic surprised fans when she announced her departure from Castle after eight seasons. While Katic will not return to the show for Season 9, reports indicate her decision was based on a feud with a co-star. Was her departure because of a conflict between her and Nathan Fillion?

In her official statement, Too Fab is reporting that Katic thanked the network for her time on the hit show and expressed gratitude for her fans. Unfortunately, Katic did not mention Fillion or the true reasons why she decided to exit the series.

“Rather than distract from what was an amazing experience, I would just like to say that I’m very grateful to ABC for giving me the opportunity to be a part of a much-beloved show,” Katic wrote in the statement. “Thank you to the fans.”

As fans will recall, Us Magazine broke the news of an on-set feud between Katic and Fillion. An insider told the outlet that Katic and Fillion’s relationship had degraded so much that they “completely despise each other” and avoided contact during production.

The reports of a feud between Katic and Fillion have not been officially confirmed. Instead, a rep for Katic has denied the rumors and revealed that there are “absolutely no issues” between the stars. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Katic’s decision to leave the show was based on the network’s plan to save money on what it considers a costly drama and not because of issues between her and Fillion.

Whatever the truth, Fillion has officially addressed his co-star’s departure. Fillion released his own statement on Twitter — some 24 hours after the fact — and thanked his co-star for their years working together.

“Castle has been one of the greatest joys of my creative life, and I hope the show continues on for years to come,” he stated. “Stana has been my partner all this time, and I thank her for creating the character of Beckett who will live on for all of us as one of the greatest police officers on television. I wish her well, and have no doubt she will succeed in everything she pursues. She will be missed.”

In addition to Katic’s exit, Just Jared reports that Tamala Jones is also leaving the series in the upcoming season. Jones played one of Beckett’s good friends on the series. The reason why Jones decided to leave the show is unknown, but it is likely due to monetary issues.

With all of the ongoing drama, it should be noted that a ninth season of Castle has not been confirmed by the network. Considering the show’s success over the years, there is little doubt that the series will get a renewal in the near future. However, it will be interesting to see how fans react to Katic’s departure and whether or not it will impact ratings.

Speaking of the show’s future, Molly C. Quinn also weighed in on the latest developments. According to Deadline, the actress, who plays Beckett’s daughter, took to social media and shared how “yesterday was a horrible day” and that she was “heartbroken” by the news.

“It’ll be different, way way way different, but it is #Castle @NathanFillion IS Castle,” she wrote on Twitter.

At the same time, ABC has officially released their own statement on the matter. The network thanked Katic for her hard work on the series and expressed hope that Katic will return to work for the network in the future.

“Kate Beckett has been a beloved character on our hit series Castle for the past eight years. We are grateful for Stana Katic’s talent and dedication to the series, and we hope to continue our relationship,” ABC wrote.

What do you think are the real reasons Stana Katic left Castle? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

[Image via ABC]