Good Wife Shocker: Archie Panjabi to Exit, Headline Own Drama Pilot
Kalinda’s boots apparently were made for walking.
Emmy winner Archie Panjabi will exit The Good Wife at the close of Season 6, our sister site Deadline reports, at which time her current pact with the acclaimed CBS series ends.
“Archie is an amazing actress who helped build Kalinda from the ground up as an enigmatic, powerful, and sexy character,” Good Wife creators Robert and Michelle King said in a statement. “It’s been a pleasure to write for her, and we’ll be sad to see her go; but we still have her for the rest of Season 6, so let’s not exhaust our good-byes yet.”
It’s no secret that Panjabi has had a strained working relationship with Good Wife leading lady Julianna Margulies — when was the last time Kalinda and Alicia breathed the same air? — but a source close to the show insists to TVLine that any alleged feud played no part in Panjabi’s decision to leave.
Next up for the actress: As part of a brand-new development/holding deal with 20th Century Fox TV, she will headline an unnamed drama pilot, to be filmed this spring and considered for the 2015-16 TV season.
Panjabi’s exit will mark the second consecutive season that The Good Wife will have sustained a major cast change, after male lead Josh Charles’ Will Gardner was written out of the show last spring.
Barring death, how would you write Kalinda out of the show?
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Not surprising. This show has been treating her horribly for a while now. Good luck to Archie!!
ARCHIE HAS MORE CHRISMA THAN JULIANA
Not sure I would consider this a shocker considering the direction her character has gone since the falling out with Alicia… But it will be interesting to see how they handle it.
Sad news. I’d rather them have spun her character off into her own shown
OoooooH….what a great idea!!!!!
I wish that Kalinda would get her own show spin-off. I know that the show will be a winner.
Not gonna happen.
It was after that I type my thought that I remember that she is a small character in a hot series. I know that writer try to fill in background past that either a hit or miss. Her show maybe a hit on some cable channel where Kalinda was a super-heroes facing the biggest bad guy.
she is getting her own show
Not interesting enough, imo!!!
That would have been fun. But I think she will go into Witness Protection or just disappear due to Lemond Bishop. Sorry to see her go.
I could sure watch Kalinda for an hour long show. She is just too cool. I’m a 61 year old grandmother, and I can’t get enough of how she takes care of business. Another one is Shaw, on Person of Interest. Fabulous character.
Can you imagine Kalinda on Person of Interest? I think she’d be great on that show. She has a lot in common with both Reese and Shaw (all quiet, secretive, mysterious, soft/emotional at times and of course, most importantly, badasses). I’m picturing it now. :)
I would completely be on board for a Kalinda spinoff. I hope her departure at the end of the season leaves room for her to at least guest star or do a small arc in the future should the Kings change their minds and go beyond their 7 season plan. I don’t see why she can’t come back at some point (if they don’t kill her off hopefully) since one of the many things TGW does well is have their guest stars constantly coming back.
I agree with you. Archie Panjabi’s Kalinda is spot o. And I like Shaw too
We will miss Archies’ hot and clever character but look forward to her new show. Thanks for making Kalinda one of the most sizzling and edgy women on TV.
I agree
I will really miss her but basically all she is now is Carey’s girlfriend. Just don’t kill her please.
well I really liked their relationship
tks Kings for ended it and put less romance on my tv =(
She & Cary are the most unsexy couple . JMHO.
well I dont get you they are great to me
Speak for yourself
I believe I was speaking for myself! No intention to get you upset, just stating my opinion , last time I checked we all are entitled to one!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The second nail in the coffin that will soon house the death of this show.
the 7th season should be the last anyway.
l think so as well, the script writers seem to be scrambling around for really decent stories, what l really want to see is Alicia get back with Peter, the lovely Chris Noth,we do not see enough of him.
yes, dying for them to get back together
Yes, it killed me when they killed her boyfriend, but I guess in “real life” he just didnt want to continue on the show. In this case, it is not as clear. we need to hear from HER
You can all thank Margulies for this. SMH
truth
Why?!
Jealousy
I see no reason for JM to be jealous. Of what? LOL .
She dislikes her and her character. She was getting a bit too popular.
Really? I consider Christine Baranski to be the biggest competition to JM in terms of popularity. I would hate to see her go or her character reduced.
Baranski got more popular as the series progressed and her role increased, whereas Panjabi was more popular in the beginning and her role began to decrease.
Does anyone know when Christine Baranski’s contract with the show ends?
I agree! And Julianna & Christine are great together. They both are stellar. No reason whatsoever for Julianna to be envious as suggested by some! Ridiculous !!!
I see I’m not the only one that feels that way.
Clearly something happened between Margulies and Archie Panjabi. Between Margulies’ rude comments about the character of Kalinda, AP’s shrinking role on the show and the show’s refusal to include a Kalinda/Alicia scene, I think it’s fair to say that something went on behind the scenes. As Margulies gained more control over the show (becoming a producing in the third season, the Kings stating that she has sway over the writing), Archie keep losing out. I’m glad she’s leaving.
Well, that’s also a way with coming up with an explanation and finally believe it’s fact. Oh the wonders of the internet and people spreading what they believe happend behing the scenes. It’s kind of sad.
Julianna has always rubbed me the wrong way and with Josh leaving and now Archie (whether she was forced out or not) it would seem Julianna is a pill to work with, to put it mildly…
Again, spreading gossip. There’s no indication that she is difficult. This is the sort of comment that others have picked up and spread. after five or six years on a show, it’s not uncommon for actors to want a new challenge. Look at E.R. Look at SNL. Look at M*A*S*H, for goodness sake.
according to interviews with Josh Charles, he was getting married, and wanted time to be with his new wife. I never heard any comments anywhere that indicated there was anything wrong between he and JM. I fact, he had very complimentary things to say about everyone in the cast.
Yeah that’s not remotely true. Josh said he only stayed on for part of last season specifically because Julianna asked him to and because they are good friends and she helped him get the job in the first place. He has never said anything but complimentary things about Julianna. You shouldn’t make things up like that. It’s rude and disrespectful.
Julianna Margulies is NO diva. Where & how can people support their posts & comments about their allegedly existing conflicts? People are so quick to judge & jump the gun. Julianna is professional, classy & humbled by her success.
I believe Alicia’s falling out with Kalinda has kinda been confusing to some. Regardless, given the rumors were true, in LIFE, no work place is perfect , but why would it just be Julianna’s fault? It takes 2 to break or make any type of relationship.
Amazing how easily ppl can point fingers? More power to the show, it survived the loss of a huge character Will played by Josh Charles. I want them to bring back Robin the other private investigator. Loved her more than I did Kalinda.
Why do you say that? She’s not a diva actress
LOL
THIS!
and why do you say she is?
It’s amazing the way people believe the rumors that people make up on the internet.
That’s a point. Right now, everyone is just repeating rumors. Nobody knows what happened – not yet at least.
In a lot of cases. Sure. However, in this case. Where there’s smoke…
::Sigh:: here we go.
You know it! -love Alicia, but can’t say the same of Julianna.
Yeah. I’m pretty much boycotting her future series as a result of her venal bitchiness.
nooooooooooo
No surprise there. Everything to have Alicia and Kalinda not to interact…
That’s too bad, but Kalinda never gets much to do anymore anyway.
I’m torn. I’m going to miss Kalinda, but I hope she’s given a shot at a great new show that has an actual chance of succeeding.. She’s very talented and will be missed otherwise.
With the exit of Josh and now Archie I wish they would wrap up the good wife it has had 6 amazing seasons because the writing was fantastic but ultimately the casts chemistry was dynamic and exciting. I’d hate to see them make the fatal mistake of dragging it out too long. I love this show but I love it enough to let it go
It’s only gonna go for 7 seasons. According to the show-runners, anyway.
I would appreciate it if you let me know where the showrunner said that it will only go on for 7 seasons. The Nielsen ratings aren’t taken into account, because every time this show goes up against a new episode of The Walking Dead, it gets CRUSHED LIKE A GRAPE! CBS uses some weird system when deciding what to do with this show. As long as Julianna Marguiles, Christine Baranski, Chris Noth and now Connie Nielsen want to keep this show going, I’m pretty sure it will keep going. I’m sorry Josh Charles wanted to leave; I think he will regret it down the road. I’ve never heard anywhere that this show will only be on for 7 seasons. I guess We’ll see.
The kings have said a few times that they only saw the show going 7 seasons. There was an episode of “the writers room” where they discuss it. JM said she would play Alicia as long as the kings wrote the show.
It was always envisioned to have 7 seasons. it only needs 1 more to complete the story anyway.
That is such a shame, she was great on this show! I wish her the best of luck in whatever she does..
…..as first reported by the Hollywood Reporter.
Ease up. Their post date is only 7 minutes before TV Line’s. Obviously a press release was sent out and the articles were written at the same time using the same source material.
I’m sorry, is anyone claiming an exclusive on this? Didn’t think so.
:( I love her. , this disappointing
She deserves it. Sindhi power!
This is so disappointing. She’s one of my favourites. There’s likely only one season left for the show, I wish she could’ve just stayed. Anyway, hopefully this will lead to the show giving her a really juicy and interesting arc this season.
This isn’t a shock at all. The rumors that Julianna wanted her gone have been swilling around for the last couple of years. And everyone has noticed their characters haven’t shared scenes or physical space since season 4.
I’m sad to see her go. Though it is very very curious that this exit is announced right at the top of the new season, when she won’t be leaving til the end of it. And contrast that with the way Josh Charles left… Very fishy…
Well, Josh’s exit was crafted as a surprise death. This leads me to believe they’re planning a proper send off for her.
Well, I assume they announced it due to 2 things, 1) Archie pursuing a headlining role on a fox drama, and 2) the assumed feud between her and Julianna. Due to the other show starting production in Spring, Archie’s departure was going to be discovered anyway and this way they can get in front of the news and avoid it being attributed partly to the behind the scenes feud.
Oh, no!!!! My favorite character (badly mis/underused over the last few seasons).
I absolutely love Archie and Kalinda and I’m going to miss both of then terribly. This does add weight to my theory that we will see Kalinda brutally murdered by Bishops guys by season’s end. For those saying the show should end before it gets bad, you’re in luck because season 7 will be it’s last as has always been planned by the Kings.
I disagree. She will either go to jail for killing her husband or flee due to perceived danger or fear of jail over whatever happened to her husband! They can’t kill another beloved character, and it wouldn’t be the shock value that they got with Will.
I thought of the Bishop issue, too. Maybe she will just disappear and no one is sure if she went on the lam to avoid Bishop’s thugs or he had her killed. After they leave the question hanging for awhile, I would love a shot of Kalinda on an island with a mai tai to finally answer it.
Have they shared any scenes together this season?
Kalinda and Alicia? No. They have talked over the phone a few times in the last few seasons but I believes it’s been 35 episodes since they physically had any scenes together.
believe*
They can’t kill her off at least. Unless they want to write a six episode arc (in the final season, to boot) where Alicia has a nervous breakdown about all her people being dead…
I still can’t believe that Archie will be leaving the series. I hope that the show won’t killed her off but allow her to return in a guest star role. I wanted to wish her all the luck with her new show.
This just ruined my day!
I’m hoping they end Kalinda’s run with her running off with me to Borneo…