Stana Katic Was ‘Hurt’ & ‘Confused’ After Being Fired From ‘Castle’
Some Castle fans still have trouble looking back on the series knowing what a ninth season would have looked like, but time seems to have changed one star’s perspective.
The plan wasn’t for the series to end with Season 8 when it first was announced that stars Stana Katic (NYPD Detective Kate Beckett) and Tamala Jones (medical examiner Lanie Parish) wouldn’t be returning. Over the years, Katic has spoken about being let go, most recently in an interview with the Daily Telegraph (via the Daily Mail). “I was confused by the entire experience. I was hurt,” she said, but added that she was “grateful for the awesome run.”
Even after what happened, she’s able to look back on the show fondly. “I am so thankful to have been a part of that project, for it to have affected as many people as it did,” she continued. “People loved that couple and loved the story we told, loved all of those characters.”
Fans were obviously surprised by the thought of the show without Beckett and Lanie. Yes, the series was titled Castle, but how could it continue on without at least its female lead? What would it mean for the central couple, Kate and Castle (Nathan Fillion)?
Previously, Katic admitted she wasn’t “clear on the thought process behind the way [her exit] went down” in an interview with Entertainment Weekly in 2018. She used similar words to describe her experience on the show and her exit — “hurt” and “grateful” — and also spoke about how its stories and characters affected fans.
“I met so many beautiful people on that project … It would be a disservice to those people, to the work that we did together, and to my work, which I feel contributed, in part, to the success of the show, to be anything but grateful,” she’d said. “We told a love story that I feel moved people, touched people.”
During Castle Season 8, ABC announced both Katic and Jones’ departures with the following statement: “Kate Beckett has been a beloved character on our hit series Castle for the past 8 years. We are grateful for Stana Katic’s talent and dedication to the series and we hope to continue our relationship. Tamala Jones has also been an integral part of the series and we are grateful she was a part of Castle.”
Ultimately, the show wasn’t renewed for a ninth season and the series ended with a happily ever after for Beckett and Castle; though they were shot, they survived and were raising kids together years later.
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G
No he went on to another successful show. She has disappeared.
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Got hooked on this show in 2023 on Lifetime. Love both characters. They complimented each other. Was disappointed when I read a blurb on line by US Weekly that Nathan and Stana despised each other per 'a source'. Interestingly I've read multiple comments they made about each other that were very favorable. The thought that ABC entertained the idea of a 9th season without Stanic and Tamala was delusional. It would have angered so many fans, ratings would have crashed. In my heart I want to believe Stanic and Nathan had a special place in their hearts for each other as well as each other's character. That makes my heart happy 🙂
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It was no surprise - Fillion and Katic, by all accounts I can find, were sick and tired of each other by then. It had supposedly gotten to a "her or me" choice forced by Fillion, and he "won". Until, I guess, ABC realized that without Katic, the show had no future, so they pulled the plug.
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I love watching the re-runs of Castle! Love all the characters.It has everything romance, murder mystery, comedy.Disappointed it was cancelled but happy I can still watch the show.
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the rookie
10 1
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This is the best show ever!!!!! I just started watching this show this year , the show reruns of it on lifetime and I instantly got into it and I love it. I love Detective / Captain KATE BECKETT she is so gorgeous and she is the star of the show. I love all the characters but Beckett was favorite. Of course I love the relationship of Beckett and Castle , if you ask me they should have been dating the start of the show because the love was always there. I wish they would of had a season 9. I’m glad the Kate became captain she deserved it. I really hope this show comes back one day.
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For the most part I feel the story suffered when the writers were changed. Although a few episodes were good others struggled, it was also clear the actors were struggling as we see them more alone or apart, the closeness / magic was absent, seemed forced…
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Not sure the showrunners would've proposed such a change unless is related to a salary demand or creating difficultly in the work environment.
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I read that she was the one that didn’t like him ? I was disappointed when the series was cancelled l watched it originally but have been watching the reruns now l still love the show and all the characters
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It is well known that he detested her for some reason.
6 4
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G
fillion is cursed, katic is a class act, she
was the show, at least she survived
17 15
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I was most intrigued by Beckett! She was such a strong female character! Castle was a good character but I tired of his bungling, not so funny, antics. I binge watched the series on Hulu and still watch it on Lifetime. But am saddened that Beckett was going to be killed off if it continued. What a sorry group of execs to make that decision as if Beckett was not integral to and the strongest character in the series.
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I only watched for Beckett. Castle couldn't act his way out of a paper bag.
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Stana is on International show on Prime called Absentia!! She got the job right after Castle was cancelled..
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C
Personally I loved the show and for you to comment on a person because of the way they look compared to others says a lot about you and that is sad. A lot of beautiful women and men adore their opposite who may be a little overweight.
2 1
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Loved the show, still do
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G
And what was that "successful " show?
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Knowing how much he dispised her, she did a fantastic job showing how much she loved castle. A lot of times, it seemed he "forced" himself to play the part of a love sick man. Also, near the end, he really was a joke w/ the junk he came up with. I use to love him from OLTL, but after this, not so much
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I can’t believe they would take his side over Stanica. I think he was jealous of her because she was the real star. He didn’t even deserve to play the part of Castle, since all he did every year was get pudgier & pudgier, while she was just drop dead gorgeous. It became more and more unrealistic that she would’ve been interested in him romantically. Although her new show is very dark, it definitely shows what a great talent she is.
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For countless reasons, 1. She's obviously the main reason most viewers watch the show, she's a class act. Fillion obviously was jealous of her
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