ABC Boss on ‘Castle’s Demise

Stana Katic and Nathan Fillion in Castle
ABC
NATHAN FILLION, STANA KATIC, finale preview, castle

ABC surprised Castle viewers when word leaked that series stars Stana Katic (Beckett) and Tamala Jones (Lanie) would not return to the drama if it returned for a ninth season. Ultimately, it ended up being a moot point: Castle was canceled.

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Of the controversial casting moves being made when the show wasn’t guaranteed a renewal, “that’s a case where you have things running on two parallel tracks,” ABC Entertainment Group president Channing Dungey said during her executive session at the Television Critics Association press tour. “We were always very upfront with the studio and producers about the possibility that we might not be bringing back the show for Season 9.”

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As the decision was looming, “the studio has to do what they need to do to prepare for the possibility of Season 9,” Dungey said. “So, they did what they felt what they needed to do in order to be ready if they got the nod. Ultimately for us at the network, we didn’t feel it was the right thing to do, to order another season.”

Do you think ABC made the right call?