Stana Katic is confirmed as a special guest star on FOX’s Murder in a Small Town, a murder-solving procedural led by Rossif Sutherland. But FOX’s announcement does not name her character or explain her part in the story, so there is no verified basis yet for saying the role “totally flips” her Castle character, Kate Beckett.
What is confirmed about Katic’s return to a crime procedural?
FOX identified Katic as one of the special guest stars in its announcement of Murder in a Small Town. The network describes the series as a psychological crime procedural: big-city detective Karl Alberg, played by Rossif Sutherland, moves to a quiet coastal town where murders keep occurring. FOX’s 2024–25 slate announcement confirms the casting and premise, but does not give Katic’s character name, episode, or plot function.
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![Murder in a Small Town - Season 1 (2024) [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41Od8NhqgWL._SL160_.jpg)
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Murder in a Small Town - Season 1 (2024) [DVD] | Buy on Amazon | |
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Murder in a Small Town | $19.87 | Buy on Amazon |
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Murder in a Small Town - Season 1 | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Murder In A Small Town | $12.95 | Buy on Amazon |
How does this compare with Kate Beckett on Castle?
On ABC’s Castle, Katic played Kate Beckett, an NYPD homicide detective working alongside mystery novelist Richard Castle. Katic’s official biography says she played Beckett for eight seasons. ABC reported in April 2016 that she would not return for the following season, quoting the network’s description of Beckett as “a beloved character on our hit series ‘Castle’ for the past eight years.” ABC’s contemporaneous report covers that departure.
The available facts support a comparison between Beckett’s established role as a police detective and Katic’s guest casting in another crime procedural. They do not establish whether her new character investigates a case, hinders an investigation, is a suspect or victim, or serves another purpose. Without that information, calling the part a reversal of Beckett’s role goes beyond what has been confirmed.
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- DVD release – Region Free playback (compatible with US DVD players)
- Official Australian manufactured release
- Includes all episodes from Season 1 of Murder in a Small Town
- Television drama series Based on the Alberg and Cassandra Mysteries by L. R. Wright
- Starring Rossif Sutherland, Kristin Kreuk, and Mya Lowe
Which other recent casting stories are separate?
Untitled Apple TV Monsterverse spin-off
TVLine reported on August 10, 2026, that Katic had joined an upcoming, untitled Apple TV Monsterverse spin-off. The report did not identify her character, and this is separate casting news—not the murder-procedural appearance. TVLine’s report covers the announcement.
Visit to the NCIS set
Katic visited the NCIS set in March 2026 to see her friend Wilmer Valderrama. In an April 28, 2026, interview with TV Insider, Valderrama said he had no casting news to report. The visit does not establish that Katic was booked for the series. TV Insider’s account describes the visit and Valderrama’s response.
Rank #2
- Murder in a small town
- Product Type: PHYSICAL_MOVIE
- Brand: Lionsgate
What remains unknown
- Katic’s character name in Murder in a Small Town.
- Which episode features her and whether the appearance is limited to one episode or recurs.
- Whether the character has any investigative authority or a direct connection to the murder case.
- Whether her role contrasts with Beckett’s in any meaningful way.
Katic has also played Emily Byrne, the lead character in Absentia, according to her official biography. That provides another crime-drama credit, but it does not clarify the undisclosed Murder in a Small Town role.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
Rank #3
- Series one
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