If there's anyone who fans expected would stick right through to the "CSI" finale special, it would most likely have been George Eads, who played Nick Stokes from the very beginning of the series.
However, several outlets have reported that the fan-favorite character won't be coming to the show for one last time.
Although Marg Helgenberger told TVLine during Comic Con that "all" of them are coming back for the two-hour farewell episode, the same site reported that Eads won't be reprising his role.
"I'm excited... that all of us are going to be back," Helgenberger, who played Catherine Willows in the long-running crime drama, revealed in the interview. "I think it's going to be a really fun time."
Did Eads' supposed last minute decision cause trouble with the "CSI" finale special's script?
Show writer Anthony E. Zuiker reportedly kept Nick Stokes in the final script even though Eads still had not officially signed on for the special. When the actor decided not to reprise his role, however, Zuiker was allegedly forced to take him out from the already finished script.
Production for the special movie - tentatively titled "Immortality" - is said to begin on July 29.
Eads ended his stint on the show with a touching goodbye in February, back when the show's future was still on the fence. Producers also kept his exit open for a possible return in the future.
Entertainment Weekly also reported that Elisabeth Shue, who played Julie Finlay, will not be coming to the show. This would mean that writers would most likely not have her wake up from her coma after being victimized by the Gig Harbor killer in season 15.
On the other hand, other fan favorites over the years have signed on to be part of the "CSI" finale special, including William Petersen (Gil Grissom), Paul Guilfoyle (Jim Brass) Ted Danson (D.B. Russell), Jorja Fox (Sara Sidle), Eric Szmanda (Greg Sanders), Elisabeth Harnois (Morgan Brody), Jon Wellner (Henry Andrews), Wallace Langham (David Hodges), Robert David Hall (Dr. Al Robbins) and David Berman (David Phillips).
The movie finale is set to air on Sep. 27 on CBS.
