Confirmed! Chord Overstreet Not Returning to Glee

USMagazine, Saturday, July 2, 2011, 7:15am (PDT)

There's been a major shakeup at McKinley High!

When Glee returns for its third season Sept. 20, there's one student who won't be roaming the halls. Us Weekly has confirmed that show creators have decided not to renew Chord Overstreet's contract as a series regular.

VIDEO: Chord Overstreet starts Justin Bieber tribute band on Glee

The sudden casting news comes on the heels of a cryptic Twitter posting the 22-year-old Overstreet sent out Friday, while he and the Glee cast were performing the show's concert tour overseas.

"Well it's been a good year. Too bad its over. Time for summer and starting fresh," the actor tweeted.

With Overstreet's exit comes news that Darren Criss and Harry Shum, Jr. -- who play Blaine and Mike -- will be upgraded to series regulars come season three.

PHOTOS: Behind the scenes of Glee

As for Glee's original characters -- including Cory Monteith, Lea Michele and Chris Colfer -- creator Ryan Murphy says they'll don caps and gowns this fall as they complete their senior year.

"We didn't want to have a show where they were in high school for eight years," Murphy told KIIS-FM's Ryan Seacrest earlier this month. "We really wanted to be true to that experience."

Clarifying his comments to TVLine.com, Murphy explained that he's not necessarily trying to push any of the cast members out deliberately.

PHOTOS: Glee stars' real yearbook pics

"The show to me is about the way you express yourself as you start to move out into the world as a fresh, young person," Murphy told TVLine. "Do we really want to have an eight-year [high school] senior? The only way somebody could stay on the show is if they flunk, and that is always a possibility. I think [Heather Morris' character] Brittany is pulling straight Fs."

Tell Us: Will you watch Glee without Chord Overstreet?

By Allison Corneau for Us Weekly. For more Channel Surfing, click here.

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