Stana Katic and Tamala Jones will not be returning to ‘Castle’

When and if “Castle” returns to ABC for a ninth season, it will do so without two of its original cast members, Stana Katic and Tamala Jones.

Both actresses will leave the long-running police procedural at the end of the current season, ABC confirmed Monday. The network has not yet announced a renewal of the drama, which stars Nathan Fillion as Richard Castle, a famous mystery novelist who shadows Kate Beckett, an NYPD homicide detective played by Katic. Jones co-stars as Dr. Lanie Parish, a medical examiner.

Said ABC in a statement: “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. Tamala Jones has also been an integral part of the series and we are grateful she was a part of ‘Castle’.”

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Actresses Viola Davis and Kerry Washington, executive producer Shonda Rhimes and actress Ellen Pompeo are just a few of the reasons that ABC’s schedule bucks the trend of white males that seemingly dominate the televison airwaves. Here’s a quick look at some of the network’s offerings.

  (Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images)

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Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter in “ Marvel’s Agent Carter.”

  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

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