Surprise firings, sci-fi callbacks, and a case of "will they/won't they"
that was very different in real life. Even if it looked like love onscreen,
things weren't always so smooth on the hit show "Castle."
Between 1986 and 1988, screenwriter Tom Straw got his start writing a handful of episodes of
the NBC sitcom "Night Court" before becoming an occasional writer on "Nurse Jackie" and
a regular contributor on the "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" staff in 2006. However,
in 2007, Straw published his first novel, "The Trigger Episode," about a Pulitzer Prize-winning
photojournalist who becomes a member of the Hollywood paparazzi. Two years later,
ABC debuted the popular crime series "Castle," which stars Nathan Fillion as
Richard Castle — a mystery author, police consultant, and private investigator.
In "Castle," the title character writes a book series about private investigators Derrick Storm
and Nikki Heat, the latter of whom is based on Castle's in-show partner, Kate Beckett — played
by Stana Katic. In real life, Castle's books exist, ranging from "Heat Wave" in 2009 to "Heat
Storm" in 2017. Of course, Richard Castle isn't a real author. Instead, Straw assumed writing
duties under the show-inspired pen name as a way of bringing Castle's persona to life off-screen.
In many ways, the character of Kate Beckett was as essential to the successes of
"Castle" as Richard Castle himself. So, after putting Nathan Fillion in the titular role,
Andrew W. Marlowe and company then sought out his co-star and on-screen love interest.
Marlowe told The Hollywood Reporter that Katic, along with over 120 other actresses, read with
Fillion before he and the rest of the producers decided on her for the role. Marlowe added,
"When Stana walked in and they started saying the words, it became more electric.
We had our fingers crossed that we had captured lightning in a bottle."
"I told you, I have nothing -" "DID I SAY YOU COULD TALK?!
DID SOMEONE GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO OPEN YOUR SORRY LITTLE MOUTH? NO!"
It's hard to imagine anyone else in the role of Beckett, and Katic's on-screen chemistry
with Fillion was immaculate, warm, and the heart of "Castle" altogether. This is especially true
in the early seasons before an off-screen feud would drive a wedge between them. It's
easy to predict that, had Season 9 moved forward without Katic, fans would have not reacted kindly.
It is not uncommon for co-stars to also be wed. Acting partners such as David Tennant and Georgia
Moffett from "Doctor Who," Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer from "True Blood," as well as Alexis Bledel
and Vincent Kartheiser from "Mad Men," to name a few, were all married couples in real life. In
"Castle," Seamus Dever and Juliana Dever, who play Detective Kevin Ryan and Jenny Ryan respectively,
were able to one-up everyone else by being a married couple both on-screen
and off. Their on-screen characters even have a daughter in the series named Sarah Grace,
who is born after Ryan and Esposito narrowly escape death in the Season 6 episode "Under Fire."
While viewers were grappling with Beckett and Castle's possible romance across all
eight seasons, the Ryans provided a long-lasting foundation of consistency
throughout the series. "Castle" was not immune to its highs and lows,
but one of the show's most consistent and brightest parts was always Jenny
and Kevin's relationship with each other. And their eventual parenthood to Sarah Grace only
helped to solidify their bond and make them an even more important pillar of the show.
Before he became Richard Castle in 2009, Nathan Fillion won the hearts of millions in the beloved,
cult-favorite Fox series "Firefly" in 2002. In the show, he played Malcolm Reynolds,
a space cowboy and captain of the ship Serenity. The series has a legacy as
one of the best single-season TV shows of all time, and Fillion has even revived a
tongue-in-cheek version of Reynolds for ten episodes of Netflix's "Big Mouth" series.
"This was the role of a lifetime."
Though "Castle" and "Firefly" are very different shows, the former pays multiple
tributes to the latter, as Redditors have studiously documented. In Castle's home,
viewers can find "Firefly" props everywhere, Castle dressed as a space cowboy for Halloween
one year, and catchphrases from the cult hit have been featured in episodes of "Castle."
"Hell of a shot castle." "I was aiming for his head."
Still, one of the most explicit and noticeable homages to "Firefly" and its beloved ship
came when a spa mentioned in the series was named Serenity. This gag was capped off with
a near-complete deadpan stare at the camera from the former space captain himself. While "Firefly"
remains Fillion's most-adored performance, it's "Castle" that made him a household name.
In "Castle," the show maintained a strong,
consistent roster of actors and actresses throughout its eight-season run. Major
characters rarely left and supporting roles earned the space to add depth to their arcs.
Still, only three actors were featured in all 173 episodes of "Castle" from 2009 to 2016. Of course,
as the title character, Fillion's inclusion on that list comes as no surprise. However,
supporting actors Jon Huertas, who plays Esposito, and Seamus Dever,
who plays Detective Ryan, also appear in every episode. Though Stana Katic,
Tamala Jones, Susan Sullivan and Molly C. Quinn are all credited on 173 episodes, the actresses
did not actually appear in every entry. Across its eight years, despite the narrative's ups
and downs and the show's shifting critic scores, "Castle" always kept its key players in the game.
Castle's name is one of great distinction. Even if you're unfamiliar with the show,
Fillion made his character one that avoided being pigeonholed into only the show's fandom,
much like he did with Mal in "Firefly." However, Castle wasn't born Richard Castle. Before he was
a best-selling author or a consultant to the 12th Precinct, Castle was known as Richard
Rodgers — the son of actress Martha Rodgers and a CIA agent known only as Jackson Hunt.
While there was never a full explanation as to why he changed his name, the switch is acknowledged
at least once. In the Season 3 episode "He's Dead, She's Dead," Kate expresses some confusion
when Castle reminds her that his middle name is Alexander — which she always thought was Edgar.
"No, I changed my middle name to Edgar for Edgar Allen Poe back
when I changed my last name to Castle. My given name is Richard Alexander Rodgers."
When on-screen together, Fillion and Katic are two romantically involved characters who play
the "will-they-won't-they" card to an extreme before they get married in Season 7. Off-screen,
however, Fillion and Katic could barely stand to act in scenes together. According to an exclusive
Us Weekly report, an insider linked to "Castle" revealed that the showrunners made Fillion and
Katic attend couples counseling together. Katic's representatives ultimately denied the allegations.
After Season 8 in 2016, Katic was not approached by production about reprising
her role as Beckett. Soon after, ABC canceled the show altogether.
According to an Entertainment Weekly interview in 2018, Katic explained,
"I'm actually still not clear on the thought process behind the way that
it went down. It hurt and it was a harsh ending."
It's unlikely that the full story will ever be revealed about what Katic and Fillion's
apparent feud entailed, but reports of Katic crying in her trailer and a source claiming
to Us Weekly that she and Fillion hated each other paint a pretty clear picture.
Before creating "Castle" in 2009, Andrew W. Marlowe was a scriptwriter in Hollywood. He
penned "Air Force One" starring Harrison Ford in 1997, "End of Days" starring Arnold Schwarzenegger
in 1999, and "Hollow Man" starring Kevin Bacon in 2000. "Air Force One" was a box office smash
and received a positive critical reception, while "End of Days" and "Hollow Man" both
made money upon release but currently hold negative Rotten Tomatoes scores.
When Marlowe made the transition to network television, "Castle" was his first credit,
which he created, wrote, and executive produced. The show became a resounding
success, consistently reaching millions of viewers every season and earning praise
from critics. After Season 7 concluded in 2015, however, Marlowe exited the program,
along with his wife Terri Miller, who served as a co-writer and co-producer.
Following their departure, "Castle" struggled to maintain its fanbase, and according to the
audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, its eighth season was considered the worst in the series.
After a subpar Season 8 that saw viewership reach an all-time low, Deadline reported that
the possibility of ABC not renewing "Castle" for a ninth season loomed over the heads of its
showrunners. According to The Hollywood Reporter, along with Stana Katic being fired from the show
if it were to continue, Penny Johnson Jerald, who plays Captain Victoria Gates, and Tamala Jones,
who plays Lanie Parish, were also not invited back for the hypothetical ninth season.
Even though the show was nixed after Season 8, the way production severed ties with some of
its most-beloved cast members left a sour taste in viewers' mouths. Upon learning
that her character would not be returning, Johnson Jerald tweeted her sorrow, writing,
"To my 'Castle' fans around the world, as of late yesterday I am surprised and saddened to learn
that I will no longer be a part of the 'Castle' family. Thank you all for your support and love."
Jones' axing was actually announced before Season 8 ended, much to her dismay.
"I thought, 'Let the fans get through the season
and then announce.' But when it came out I was very much aware."
There is no doubt that Katic, Johnson, Jerald, and Jones' departures would have
cast a dark shadow on Season 9 had it been made. The three women were integral parts of the show,
and the showrunners' decision to write out their characters
before ABC canceled "Castle" remains a low point in the series' history.
Tamala Jones's situation didn't just surprise fans,
as the rest of the cast had not been informed by production that
their co-stars would not be returning for Season 9 if it were to happen.
Esposito actor Jon Huertas had signed on to return in Season 9 but did not learn of the departures of
Jones, Katic, and Johnson Jerald until it made waves on social media. The actor even confirmed
it himself, announcing his shock and dismay at the news on Twitter. Despite Huertas' obvious
frustrations, it's unclear whether or not the production's handling of cast firings played any
role in the show's quick demise. It appears, though, that a rift between the showrunners,
the network, and the cast could have been imminent had they proceeded with Season 9.
Andrew W. Marlowe's departure after Season 7 draws no immediate links to the decline in
quality that was seen during the final season of "Castle." However, Marlowe couldn't keep
his opinions locked away once the story he created took a divisive detour in Season 8.
In 2016, Marlowe tweeted what appears to be his disapproval of how the final season
of "Castle" carried on, which included Beckett electing to take a break from
her relationship with Castle. The couple spends most of the final season separated,
which goes against the vision Marlowe had started seven years prior. The creator wrote on Twitter:
"Heartbroken. There are no words."
Though the show ends with Castle and Beckett depicted in a happily-ever-after scenario,
according to Entertainment Weekly, producers filmed a different ending, in which the
couple is still separated but in a cliffhanger that left both of their fates up in the air.
"Castle" found itself with a cast romance drawing similarities to another procedural drama. On Fox,
the show "Bones" featured a protagonist couple — Brennan and Booth — that was reminiscent
of Castle and Beckett, due to them being crime-solving co-workers with a budding love.
What "Bones" did that "Castle" failed to do was give their protagonists' romance
space to grow after marriage. The build-up was worth it on the former,
since Brennan and Booth would marry in season nine and have three more seasons to capitalize
on their togetherness and become even more layered as characters than they already were.
In "Castle," however, Castle and Beckett's marriage was on the rocks by the series' end.
This dissolution was likely in part due to Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic's ongoing strife behind
the scenes. Beyond that, though, a show built on the back of its two main characters and
their shared romance is unlikely to survive once those ties are severed in some way.