Words are Nicole Beharie had been unhappy and was trying to exit the series for quite some time, but the actress says in a statement confirming her exit that she 'loved playing Abbie.'
- Apr 9, 2016
AceShowbiz - "Sleepy Hollow" killed two characters in two weeks. While we were still reeling from last week's death of Joe Corbin (Zach Appelman), the show featured an even bigger death. [SPOILER ALERT!] Abbie Mills (Nicole Beharie), who has been one of the central characters since the first season, met her demise in the third season finale as she sacrificed herself to save the world from The Hidden One.
Unlike in earlier of the season where Abbie's soul was taken to the catacombs, Icahbod Crane (Tom Mison) could not rescue her this time. The April 8 episode served as a fitting tribute to the duo with Abbie and Ichabod reliving their partnership from the pilot through the current season.
Confirming her exit, Beharie said in a statement to TVLine after the episode aired, " 'Sleepy Hollow' has been an incredible experience in every way. I loved playing Abbie. It's been such a gift to have taken this wild ride... Alas, 'Abbie Mills has done all she was meant to do.' "
She added, "I'm excited about what the show has in store for us next. I'm rooting for my co-stars and crew... they have been my inspiration, my teachers, family, my friends, over the last few seasons. I want to thank the fantastic producers, writers, and directors who have worked tirelessly to bring this show to life. I want to thank FOX for their faith and support. But, most of all, [I want to thank the] Sleepyheads for all of your love - what an honor. I will never be the same. Stay tuned."
Producers 20th Century Fox Television and showrunner Clifton Campbell also said in a joint statement, "The [season] finale featuring the tragic death of Abbie Mills was a very dramatic ending and a bold move for the show, but 'Sleepy Hollow' has always been known for its shocking finales."
They continued, "We feel we provided a wonderfully poignant conclusion for Abbie and showed some of the best moments between the Witnesses that we've seen on-screen. We thank Nicole Beharie for bringing Abbie and 'Sleepy Hollow' to life. We are currently discussing season four, and should the series be picked up for another season, we have some exciting scenarios and new avenues we want to explore."
Rumor has it, Beharie had been unhappy and was trying to quit the show for some time. The original plan was to have her character killed off in the season 3 midseason finale, but the network backed away from the plan and wanted to finish the season with the star.
Beharie's departure comes as the show's fate remains on the bubble. FOX has not renewed it, but sources say a fourth season is highly likely. Talks are still underway for the renewal, with Mison in the midst of renegotiating his contract for a potential season 4.
