'Glee' trio not leaving show (THR, EW, TVL)

By Nancy Tartaglione

During the "Glee" panel at Comic-Con on Sunday, co-creator and executive producer Brad Falchuk appeared to contradict earlier statements made by Ryan Murphy regarding the future of cast members Chris Colfer, Lea Michele and Cory Monteith.

Murphy previously told The Hollywood Reporter that the trio would be graduating this season and not returning for the show's fourth. But, Falchuk on Sunday said, "They are not done with the show after this season."

"Because they're graduating doesn't mean they're leaving the show. If you have Lea Michele under contract, you don't just say, 'We're going to let you go'." Falchuk said, as now recounted by THR.

"It was never our plan, it was never our intention to let them go," Falchuk added. "They are not done with the show after this season."

Earlier this month, Murphy had told THR: "You can keep them on the show for six years and people will criticize you for not being realistic, or you can be really true to life and say when they started the show they were very clearly sophomores and they should graduate at the end of their senior year."

Entertainment Weekly confirmed that all of the actors have traditional seven-year contracts meaning there's still a fair bit of life in them. However, the studio does retain the right to drop them year after year.

Apparently a spinoff had been explored revolving around the graduating characters, but the creators are leaning against doing it.

But, Chord Overstreet's exit is still a go, said Falchuk who explained that the actor was offered a deal to return for 10 episodes with the possibility of becoming a series regular, but declined in favor of other opportunities.

Related Links

Comic-Con 2011: 'Glee' Trio 'Are Not Done With the Show After This Season,' EP Says (TLF)
'Glee': Lea Michele, Chris Colfer, and Cory Monteith NOT leaving show after third season (EW)
Glee Boss: Chris Colfer, Cory Monteith and Lea Michele Are Staying, But Sam Won't Be Back (TVL)