'Castle' Season 8 Update: Stana Katic Confirms Her Return, Creator Andrew Marlowe Exits

“Castle” fans now have every reason to celebrate. Stana Katic has inked her new, one year “Castle” contract. This means she is returning to reprise her role as Kate Beckett in “Castle” Season 8. ABC renewed the show for another season earlier this month.

Katic’s co-actor Nathan Fillion, who plays the titular character of Rick Castle, had signed on his new contract last month. As Katic was taking time to close her contract negotiation, there was much speculation about her return and some of the fans feared that her character would be killed off in “Castle” Season 7 finale. Neither her character died in the season finale nor she quit the show.

Soon after reports of her return surfaced, the actress took to Twitter to confirm the news, saying “I am so pleased to announce that, after talking with our new show runners, Terence Paul Winter and Alexi Hawley (both of whom I’ve had pleasure of working with on the show before) I’m excited about the future plans of Beckett and delighted to be returning for a Season 8 of “Castle.”

As previously reported, Winter and Hawley are going to serve as the new showrunners. David Amann is exiting “Castle” after serving as its showrunner for one season. He took over the responsibility from “Castle” creator Andrew Marlowe after Season 6 wrapped up.

Meanwhile, Marlowe, who continued to be closely associated with the show after stepping down as the showrunner and also co-wrote “Castle” Series 7 final episode, has also announced his exit from the show. He posted his goodbye message on Twitter, saying his thank you to "Castle" fandom for seven amazing seasons of the show.

“Castle” Season 7 finale ended on a positive note, with Castle receiving Poe’s Pen Career Achievement Award and he paying tribute to all the special people in his life, including Martha, Alexis, Esposito and Ryan. He called Beckett his muse and the love of his life. The episode also revealed the reason behind Castle becoming a mystery writer.

When “Castle” returns this fall, with Season 8 episodes, the storyline is expected to focus on the new career opportunity that has opened up for Beckett -- the offer to run for New York State Senate. The much loved homicide detective has yet to accept that offer. Also the storyline is likely to revisit Castle’s disappearance mystery, as all answers were not revealed in episode 20 of “Castle” Season 7.

You may contact the writer at a.shrivastava@IBTimes.com.au.