CASTLE: Alexi Hawley and Terence Paul Winter Preview Beckett’s Career Path

CASTLE season 8 will be making some changes to the established team dynamic.

While the season 7 finale had Beckett’s career options up in the air, new co-showrunner Alexi Hawley confirmed that Beckett will indeed be getting promoted when the ABC drama returns this fall.

“At the end of the day, she’s become the captain,” Hawley teased. “But she’s going to be a much more hands-on captain than we’ve seen. She’s still going to be involved in solving cases. What’s great is it changes her relationship with the boys…she’s their boss now. There’s some fun to be had there. We just thought it was a great way to shake things up. Going into season 8 of a show, you need to be able to do that.”

With Beckett’s promotion, she will fill the space that was once occupied by Captain Gates. And while Penny Johnson Jerald (Gates) is off the show as a series regular, Hawley and co-showrunner Terence Paul Winter indicated they’d be open to her returning for a guest spot if the timing could be worked out.

“We’re not saying never,” Hawley said. “In our universe, [Gates has] been promoted. She works at 1 Police Plaza now, she’s the deputy chief. So she has a great career. If we have the opportunity to use her in a way that’s meaningful to the story, absolutely [we’ll do it].”

“And, of course, [it’ll depend on] if Penny is available, because she’s so good,” Winter said. “[It was] a very tough decision, but ultimately one we had to make, creatively.”

The change in leadership won’t be the only thing impacting the dynamic of the 12th precinct: “There will definitely be some changes,” Hawley teased when questioned about how much viewers would see of Ryan’s personal life this season.

“Wonderful changes,” Winter added.

And though fans haven’t seen much of Ryan’s wife and child in a while, Hawley allowed “it’s possible” the change would be related to a new baby for the Ryan family.

“It’s very possible,” Winter teased.

“I think that possibility combined with Beckett moving on up it infuses [Ryan and Esposito] with ‘What are we doing with our careers?'” Hawley said. “Which I think will be fun, will add some conflict between the two of them in a great way.”

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Related:

CASTLE: Jack Coleman to Return
CASTLE: Ann Cusack to Guest Star
CASTLE Adds Sunkrish Bala in Recurring Role
CASTLE: Toks Olagundoye Joins Season 8
CASTLE: Stana Katic to Return for Season 8
CASTLE Names a New Showrunner

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