Castle will retain its Castle but lose its kings — and possibly its queen — should ABC renew the procedural for Season 8.

An ABC spokesperson confirms that Nathan Fillion has signed a new deal to continue on as the title character for Season 8, if the show is picked up for the 2015-16 TV season.

However, the status of co-lead Stana Katic, whose contract also is up this spring, remains a big question mark.

ABC also confirms that David Amann would not return as showrunner for any possible Season 8, while TVLine hears that both series creator Andrew W. Marlowe and executive producer Terri Edda Miller would likely step away from their producing/writing duties to focus on development.

Speaking to the series’ future with both Fillion and Katic’s contracts in play, Amann previously told TVLine, “Obviously, we’re prepared for whatever comes along, and we’ll adjust as necessary…. In the meantime, we’ll just make the best show that we can.”

Katic meanwhile told TVLine in November, when asked about the show’s uncertain future, “If the character is complete, if there is nowhere else to go creatively, then I think it’s better to stop when you’re on top…. [F]or me it’s about art over finance, and as long as we’re creating something that is compelling and that has somewhere to go, then we’re good to go. And when we find that we’re not… then it’s time for everyone to pack up and move onto the next thing.”

The just-released synopsis for Castle‘s May 11 season finale, titled “Hollander’s Woods,” reads: “A death in the woods draws Castle back to a terrifying and defining event in his childhood. Investigation leads to obsession, as he attempts to unearth answers that have eluded him for decades, all while Beckett faces a crossroads.”

Can you imagine a Castle without his Beckett? If need be, how would you write out Katic’s character?