A decision about whether or not Castle will be getting a ninth season has yet to be determined by ABC, but a couple of the stars have closed deals to return.

According to Deadline, Nathan Fillion, who plays the title character Richard Castle, has already signed a deal to return for a ninth season. Should Castle return next season, we can look forward to seeing more of the title character. Furthermore, Deadline also reports that today Seamus Dever, who plays Detective Kevin Ryan, also signed a contract for a ninth season.

Jon Huertas, who plays Detective Javier Esposito (a.k.a Detective Ryan’s partner in crime) has not signed on for another season, but the speculation is he will soon.

If ABC greenlights a ninth season and Huertas also signs a contract for an additional season, Castle will become a real boys club. It was recently announced that Stana Katic and Tamala Jones, who play Detective Kate Beckett and Lanie Parish respectively, would not be returning for a ninth season.

In the last few weeks of Castle season 8, a lot of drama and tension has been brewing. Two of the leading ladies from Castle were not asked back for a ninth season because of budget cuts. There is also speculation that Katic in particular was not asked back as a way to secure a contract with Fillion for a ninth season.

The characters Castle and Beckett may be known for their romantic tension on screen, but off camera there was a different and less-pleasant kind of tension between the actors.

ABC has yet to actually renew Castle for a ninth season, despite having deals signed by several of the actors. The network is holding off on a decision until they’ve finished screening some pilots, a task currently underway at ABC.

If Castle returns for an additional season, it will probably be trimmed to only 13 episodes with a reduced licensing fee.

A plan is already in place for a ninth season should Castle be renewed. Showrunners Alexi Hawley and Terence Paul Winter, who joined the show at the beginning of this season, have already mapped out their vision for the next season. The only missing piece is a renewal order.

A final decision about season 9 of Castle is supposed to be decided within the next 24 hours.