Enjoy it while it lasts, Gleeks!
Fan favorite cast members Lea Michele, Cory Monteith and Chris Colfer will say goodbye to McKinley High and the series forever when they graduate at the end of season 3, Glee co-creator Ryan Murphy revealed Wednesday.
"You can keep them on the show for six years and people will criticize you for not being realistic," Murphy told The Hollywood Reporter, "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."
While Murphy admits Michele, 24, and Colfer, 21, were on-board with his decision to write their characters off the show, the exec says he has yet to discuss the changes with Monteith, 29. Murphy doesn't expect the actor to be too shocked, however. "He knows he was a sophomore when the show started," Murphy told THR of Monteith.
Michele, Monteith and Colfer aren't the only characters seeing their roles revised for season three. Earlier this month, FOX confirmed Chord Overstreet's series regular option was not picked up. One silver lining, though: Darren Criss and Harry Shum, Jr., were announced to be series regulars as of season 3.
Tell Us: Will you watch Glee without Lea Michele, Cory Monteith and Chris Colfer?
By Allison Corneau for Us Weekly. For more Channel Surfing, click here.