‘Castle’ star, sterne Stana Katic On Why She Came Back & Season 8 | Deadline 

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‘Castle’ Star Stana Katic On What Made Her Stay, “Cosmic” Season 8 And Her Future On The Show & Beyond

star Stana Katic, who today begins filming Season 8 of the popular ABC series. It was a busy three-month hiatus for Katic, during which she shot two indie movies, 

, and got married. In addition to playing the female lead opposite Nathan Fillion, Katic has added a new role on

 as part of her new contract: a producer. In her first interview since signing on for Season 8, Katic talks about the decision to return, provides a glimpse at next season that promises to shake things up under new showrunners Alexi Hawley and Terence Paul Winter, addresses her future on the show and what she would like to do next.

'Castle' Star Stana Katic To Return For Season 8

fans last spring when the contracts of both Fillion and Katic expired. By mid-April, Fillion, who plays Rick Castle, had agreed to a new deal, but Katic’s new pact did not close until hours before ABC was to announce its 2015-2016 schedule in May. Behind the scenes, things weren’t as dramatic, Katic says. “For me it wasn’t necessarily down to the wire,” she says. “I didn’t really start speaking about that until after we had wrapped the (7th) season. A lot of the discussions were happening while I was filming 

, so I let my reps handle. It went rather quickly in the end.”

For Katic, signing on for Season 8 was way more than a business decision. “Part of my thought process making the decision whether to do another season was creatively, what would that would look like,” she said. Factoring into the consideration was the fact that

creator Andrew Marlowe was leaving the series after Season 7. “He was part of making this character (Kate Beckett) what she’s become, and he has been part of this dialogue about how to create a strong female heroine,” Katic said.

It scares me if Stana has any creative input. I just hope Hawley and Winter can get...

Great to see Stana Katic recognized for her talent, hard work, determination, and contributions to her community....

Best show on the air. These two are georgeous omg. Where did she comefrom I never saw...

When Hawley and Winter — both experienced

writer-producers — were named as new showrunners, “I started to feel the character would be safe in the next chapter of

. I felt confident that they knew the story, the character — Terence has been on the show since Day 1, and some of the most interesting episodes for my character were penned by Alexi — and while they are eager to shake things up and aim at telling challenging stories, they would also protect the integrity of the character.”

After taking a day to move offices from his previous job as co-showrunner of 

writing staff, went on a writers retreat where they hashed out a bible for Season 8. How will Hawley and Winter shake things up?

d, Katic said, noting that is excited about Hawley and Winter’s ideas while being coy about next season’s storyline and the resolution of Season 7 finale cliffhanger, which saw Beckett left pondering an offer to run for the New York State Senate. Still, she revealed some information about the opening two episodes and beyond.

Katic called Episodes 1 and 2 of Season 8 “brother and sister.” Each reflects Castle and Beckett’s perspective on “an event that shifts the entire season into a higher velocity” and “is part of what will set everything up for the next 20 episodes.”

Here are more clues about Season 8. “Part of the exciting thing about this season is the way Alexi and Terence have envisioned the cosmic version of why the two characters (Castle and Beckett) have come together, how did these roads combine. It delves into the mythology of Rick’s disappearance and memory loss as well as into what inspired Beckett to become a cop in the first place.”

? It is too early to discuss that, according to Katic. “I don’t know what is going to happen with

and its future as we are at the beginning of what this season is going to be.” But she was quick to point out that “as an actor, if we can tell many stories and have a creatively fulfilling experience, we love to jump and explore a character.”

, also is looking to expand beyond acting to directing as well as “finding great projects and helping to put them together.” She calls that a natural progression for actors, especially women, noting that many actresses who have won an Oscar have done so with movies that they had helped develop and produce. “It’s about finding great pieces and stories that I can be part of” that may or may not be starring vehicles, Katic said.

a week into production so she could wrap production on her second hiatus movie,

with Alfred Molina and Jackie Weaver, which she just did over the weekend, and thanked ABC for graciously letting her carve time out for the film, which tells the story of four estranged sisters who reunite to mourn after their mother’s alleged suicide.

, in which Katic plays the female lead opposite

‘s Raza Jaffrey, was a completely different experience. It was filmed in Jordan and marked Katic’s first trip to the Middle East. “It was unique and amazing,” Katic said about the shoot that had to deal with traveling through the desert in 50° C heat (112° F), holding the camera for camel crossing or redoing a take interrupted by a call to prayer. Because Jordan’s economy is not as strong as America’s, the local film industry has to make do with less. “People try to make films happen with a bit more ingenuity, and there is something very charming about people’s generosity and desire to make it happen,” Katic said.

In addition to the two movies and the wedding, Katic took time this summer to work on her ATP foundation, which promotes alternative travel. She spent time meeting with people from Google, Metro as well as the White House discussing the issue that she is very passionate about. “I think this project is part of next chapter of what our planet will look like as within the next 10-20 years 70% of the planet’s population will live in cities,” she said. Katic is trying to set an example — making the commitment to travel by public transport or bike at least once a week.

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Cosmic is good!!! This show has evolved spectacularly over time.

And, I’m glad to see both Katic & Fillion pursuing independent projects, not just resting on their laurels.

Who are we kidding, exactly? A dump-truck full of money is what made both Fillion and Katic stay.

That show is cliched and terrible except for the witty banter and chemistry between the two leads. I do like the actors but the show is so boring I can’t watch it.

I have enjoyed Castle since episode one. However, at this point, I kind of wish ABC had retired it this spring and given Forever a chance to grow, instead.

That makes no sense. A chance to grow? It’s not a plant. Grow in audience? You gotta get people to try it and they obviously weren’t going to do that. People had ample opportunity to try Forever and didn’t watch it sufficiently. Ioan Gruffudd was good, the concept was good, but when I gave it a shot it underwhelmed me. I guarantee you if they’d canceled Castle to keep a lesser rated show on the air, the Castle fans not yet watching would’ve largely rebelled and refused to try it purely for spite. I’ve seen it happen with other shows. Then you lose two of them and have a hole in your schedule to fix where you previously had no worries. The last thing you do is get rid of a consistent, profitable show for one that’s struggling, esp. when it’s not like they saw room for growth. Monday nights have an anchor of a reality show followed by Castle, a show with multiple Peoples Choice Awards to its credit. It’s worked for them and they’re not gonna go messing with it because Forever gave you warm fuzzies. It has to earn its place and it didn’t. I’ve been there myself, and I empathize, but giving Forever a chance depended on nothing better showing up on their pilot slate and that’s what nipped it.

So glad there will be a Season 8 of Castle! And Yes, Cosmic is GOOD! Love the writing, the one liners, and actors deliveries of same. And there also seems to be a genuine fondness for one another underlying the cast. THAT is what I turn in to see and feel. Real people trying to do a good job.

must be hard to return to a show where your costar hates you so much. shaking it up so that they never have to work together is rough.

I don’t know if you are the same one who has already posted three comments under the moniker Anonymous but at least this last comment shows what nasty ignorant morons sometimes frequent these sites and try to let on they know anything about the performers or shows they comment on.

It’s telling that your type are afraid to put a name to the jerk you seem to be!

in any event ..great show ,talented cast and hopefully a great season8.

I’ve seen this before. That they hate each other. Is this substantiated with proof?

So they may or may not be the best of friends like they were in the beginning, but did you see the post from Nathan’s girlfriend wishing Stana the best of luck on her first day back. If there was any riff would his girlfriend post something so nice?

I think it’s not a matter of hatred. He’s just jelaous because people like Stana more than him and many watch the show just for her. But that’s what he gets for constant talking about Firefly and not promoting the show that actually made him rich and famous… To me they could cancel the show and give Stana a new one because that girl deserves it.

Best show ever!! I’m so excited for season 8!

love castle and beckett. so happy they are coming back. hope kate stays in the squad. she is a great cop. senate she would never get justice for anyone. and of course would love to see her and castle have a baby.

Glad my fav show is back, but her spoilers worry this fan. Sounds to me like writers will be changing the history of the show (and this wonderful couple) that we have all invested in for 7 years. Hope Im proven wrong.

Stana Is The Best Actress In The World.AM So Glad There Is A Season 8.Nathan Fillion Is The Best Actor Ever.They Make The Best Couple Ever On TV.Love Those Two Hope For More Seasons Of Castle.

They hate each other??? I must have missed something these last 7 yrs!!

Who is she kidding she “needed to consider the creative direction of the show!” It was always about the money. Good thing she has money because she is not a movie star and never will be. Both of those movies are very low budget. Her reps handling it? This is a business she was only signed to get the commission on this season.

I’m so glad Stana is back for season 8 of Castle if she didn’t sign on for season 8 , I wouldn’t of watched it she’s the reason I watch Castle .

I love Beckett and Castle – their chemistry very, very much since I saw them for the 1st time, really! But I don’t know why I really dislike Nathan – he has something I find him just frustrating, sometimes when I’m watching his interviews I can not stand him and i really do not know why. For me Stana is Castle’s dark horse, she is so amazing and does all this things on the same time – ATP, The Rendezvous, Sister Cities and 8th season of Castle (Stana has added a new role on Castle as part of her new contract: a producer). I do not know why but I think that these rumors can be truth – maybe Nathan and Stana don’t hate each other but it is hard to believe for me that they are friends – I mean they are so different and I think Stana has better relationship with Jon Huertas and Seamus Dever

I think we need to have faith in the powers that be that they will take care of our show and continue to tell great stories. The two new show runners have a plan that Stana seems excited about and they all have been around this show long enough to know why we fans love it so much. Just cross your fingers, sit back and see where they take us and hopefully we will all be pleasantly surprised and pleased with the direction they take and hopefully we will get many of those Caskett moments we all love so much!!

Now, all she needs is some talent and she will really go places.

I still think that a break up is inevitable since Stana is now producer and she wants to get back to Beckett mythology as I see it .Hope Iam wrong otherwise I think slot of fans including myself will not watch.

Stana’s a Caskett shipper. She rooted for them to get the two together for awhile. Why would she ever advocate a breakup? I love how every so often some fans set up a straw man about ending Caskett and then swear they’d never watch again if that happened. Calm down, the only people bringing it up are the ones who then get upset about it and threaten to stop watching. Nobody on the show put it out there, that’s not on their radar as a thing.

A box car full of money to stick with a cutting edge drama that shows what real crime fighting is all about. It makes Murder She Wrote look like The Shield.

I’m glad that castle has season 8. I really enjoy this show. I’ve been looking at castle since one, and i enjoy every episode. I think stana is great and nathan is great too.They both have great projects they are working on, and i am so proud of them both. Can’t wait to see season 8.Love the show very much, and love the actresses and acrors very much.

glad your back for season 8 i really like watching your show and the mysteries you do each week can not wait till september

Stana i Beautiful and talented actress and I’m glad that she is back for season 8 the best show eve!

Great to see Stana Katic recognized for her talent, hard work, determination, and contributions to her community. Her success is well deserved!!!

It scares me if Stana has any creative input. I just hope Hawley and Winter can get the show back on track and make Castle and Beckett into the loving couple we have waited 7 years to see. Marlowe practically killed the show. Almost everyone I know that used to watch quit watching long ago.

'Castle' Star Stana Katic On What Made Her Stay, "Cosmic" Season 8 And Her Future On The Show & Beyond

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