The Elsbeth season 3 premiere makes clear the major absence following the cast’s surprise exit

Season 3 premieres on CBS Elspeth addressed the cast’s surprise exit – but could the fan-favorite character return in the future?

During the Sunday, October 12 episode, Elsbeth (Carrie Preston(He returned to work without Kaya)Kara Patterson) next to her. It was a marked change as Kaya adjusted to a secret mission in Washington, D.C. Which helped the creative team on the show To expand the world of police procedural hit.

“I wish I could say there’s a big plan, but a lot of it is that we have to see which way the conversation goes in the writers room,” executive producer Jonathan Tolins said exclusively. Us Weekly Presenting the third season in partnership with Know Your Lemons and Tribeca at AMC Lincoln Square. “When there’s a surprise for us, it excites us. We know that’s what we should strive for.”

Tolins quipped that Captain Wagner (Wendell Pierce) Life won’t be getting any more screen time, adding: “We’re (also) introducing some new characters who test Elspeth’s feelings about honesty and trust. She’s developing new friendships due to Kaya’s exit.”

When asked Whether Kaya will returnTolins confirmed that we will “definitely” see more of Patterson’s character, which has already been teased by footage from previous episodes. Preston also spoke to we About how the view displays with changes.

“(This season) works well with the detectives. But with every case Elspeth goes on, it’s not going to be the same detective every time. So we already had that setup with different detectives stepping in and now we’re doing the same thing with the uniformed officers,” Preston, 58, explained. “You will connect with people in different ways.”

The actress continued to share that she enjoyed the change over the three seasons of the hit CBS show.

“It keeps the show fresh and keeps Elspeth on her game more. She’s working with new, younger people and people she’s never met before. So she’s getting to know people,” she noted. “I don’t know if we’ll ever get to just one. Anything can happen. But I really like the new people we’re working with now.”

Elsbeth, which premieres in 2024, reintroduces the main character after she originally appeared in The Good Wife and The Good Fight. The first two seasons showed Elspeth becoming an actual detective who assists in NYPD investigations. Preston stars alongside Pierce and Patterson.

Fans They were in for a surprise When the second season ended Patterson left the show as a series regular.

“It’s been in development since the beginning of Season 2,” Preston said exclusively. we in May. “We wanted to honor her and elevate her to the level of detective. So it was very exciting when that happened for the character. But not as exciting for us because we love Kara. I love Kara and obviously I love playing with her.”

Preston promised that this wasn’t the last we’ll see of Kaya, adding: “She’s still on the show — it’s just in a different capacity. It’s nice because it adds some conflict and it adds some things that Elspeth has to wrestle with. And it’s going to deepen my character.”

Elspeth It airs on CBS Thursdays at 10pm ET. New episodes air the next day on Paramount+.