Jerald, who has starred as Captain Victoria Gates since the fourth season, will not be returning for the next installment of the ABC series.
- May 30, 2015
AceShowbiz - "Castle" is losing its captain. Penny Johnson Jerald announced on Twitter that she would not reprise her role as Captain Victoria Gates for the upcoming season 8 of the ABC procedural crime drama series.
"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. Hugs from PJJ," the actress wrote on Friday night, May 29.
Jerald first joined the long-running series in the fourth season. According to TVLine, the actress' exit is one of the changes that the show will make in the eighth season under the leadership of new co-showrunners Terence Paul Winter and Alexi Hawley.
Fans soon reacted to the sad news. @Paladin356 wrote, "WHAT?! nooooo. This is really sad. I'll miss seeing you on Castle :(" @really_sharrie tweeted, "what!!! This made me teary I was getting ready to fall asleep and saw this tweet."
@BecaGreenfield also commented on Jerald's announcement, "What?!?!?! Omg, that's so sad! Castle won't be the same without you!" Meanwhile, @CaskettIsMyDrug simply wrote, "NOOOOOOOOO WHAT THIS CAN'T BE."
"Castle" was renewed for an eighth season earlier this month after months of speculation about whether or not ABC would pick up the show for another season. Later on May 12, Stana Katic was also confirmed to return for the next season.
