Penny Johnson Jerald will not be returning for the eighth season of "Castle" in the role of Captain Victoria Gates.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jerald recently took to Twitter to announce she will not be returning to the ABC-aired drama series that also stars co-stars Stana Katic and Nathan Fillion.

"To my 'Castle' fans around the world, as of late yesterday I am surprised and saddened to learn that I will no longer be a part of the 'Castle' family," she wrote on the social media site. "Thank you all for your support and love. Hugs from PJJ."

Jerald's Captain Gates character was the newest member of the 12th precinct, taking over after Roy Montgomery's death. She officially signed to star on the show in 2011, after previously being in"Bones" and "NCIS."

Jerald also previously starred as Sherry Palmer for three seasons on "24" beginning in 2001.

After appointing new showrunners and re-signing Katic and Fillion to new deals, network execs recently announced the show will be returning for what's been widely rumored as a shortened final season with 13 episodes. Network officials, however, stress that an episode count has yet to be determined.

In early May, ABC announced Terence Paul Winter and Alexi Hawley had been tabbed as new co-showrunners, replacing the veteran David Amann.

The Hollywood Reporter notes Winter has been with the series for more than 125 episodes, serving as a producer, supervising producer and co-producer before rising to executive producer, and Hawley will be rejoining the series after a previous three-year stint as a writer and co-producer.

The Reporter adds Jerald's character never had a real story line on the show, and her role is thought to be easily replaceable.