Despite initial assurances that the entire cast would move seamlessly to the show's new home on cable, there is now word that some Nashville cast members will not be part of the series' fifth season when it resumes production.
According to a report from TVLine.com, Will Chase (Luke) and Aubrey Peeples (Layla) will not be continuing with Nashville when it makes its move to CMT.
In an interview with Deadline.com, CMT's head of development, Jayson Dinsmore, confessed that it was "really early" to discuss definitives for the series. "We've seen some really great press. Connie [Britton, Rayna] was in Texas last week and said some very nice things about the show," Dinsmore commented. "When we announced that we picked it up we had several of the cast members onstage with us at CMA's Fest last week. We had Chip [Esten, Deacon] and Clare [Bowen, Scarlett], so our expectation and our hope is that everyone will participate in this next cycle. Again, we're just having those conversations now with the producers."
ABC announced earlier this year that it had decided to pull the plug on the country music-based soap. Fans immediately began lobbying for another outlet to pick up the show. Nashville will be CMT's highest profile series.
General Hospital alum Jonathan Jackson (ex-Lucky Spencer) and Guiding Light alum Hayden Panettiere (ex-Lizzie Spaulding) are expected to be part of the show's future.
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