Stana Katic Not Returning For CASTLE’S Ninth Season

Holy cow!

Stana Katic will not be joining her cast-mates when Castle returns for a planned ninth season.

In a major shakeup, the Castle star has not been asked back in an effort to cut costs, according to breaking news via Deadline, who cite the decision as coming from ABC and ABC Studios and not the actress herself.

The news comes following the announcement that co-star Tamala Jones (medical examiner Lanie Parish) will also exit.

Nathan Fillion has been in negotiations to return to the series for a shortened, likely 13-episode, ninth season, at a reduced license fee.

But while both Fillion and Katic signed contracts last Spring for one year, the studio pursued Fillion for another season, while Katic was not approached, according to the report.

“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,” ABC told Deadline in a statement on the double departure.

“Tamala Jones has also been an integral part of the series and we are grateful she was a part of Castle.”

Castle without Beckett? Castle without Caskett? We’re unsure what exactly will constitute the show’s remaining truncated season.