Kevin Parry/WireImage.comBones is back! The cast and writers of Fox's cult-hit romantic-comedy procedural gathered at the Paley Center Wednesday night in Los Angeles to celebrate the return of the show this Monday, April 14.
Before the panel, I hit up show runners Hart Hanson and Stephen Nathan, as well as castmembers Emily Deschanel, Michaela Conlin, Eric Millegan and John Francis Daley, with your fan Q's about the rest of season three, the resolution of the Gormagon murder case, who might be getting married, and who could be getting up close and personal with another kiss...
Click in to find out the exclusive answers!
Anna in Oklahoma City: "Player Under Pressure," the episode that was pulled last season, is scheduled to air this month. Did you end up shooting new footage to replace the Angela-Hodgins engagement scenes, or is the original episode going to air?
Conlin (Angela Montenegro): "We did shoot new footage. They were restricted by some of our haircuts and who had facial hair and who didn't, so Tamara [Taylor] (Dr. Camille Saroyan) and I had some scenes together, and then so did T.J. [Thyne] (Dr. Jack Hodgins) and I."
Nicole in Seattle: Will there be another Angela-Hodgins wedding this year?
Conlin: "Well, I will say that I know the ex-husband is arriving—I believe it's happening in the last two episodes of this season. And I'm hoping to sit in on the casting sessions. There are gonna be chemistry tests."
Hanson: "We're gonna find the best guy in the world for Angela. Whoever we finally cast, Jack has to be completely and utterly cowed when this guy finally walks in."
Elizabeth in Bangor, Maine: Exploring Booth's family was supposed to happen this season—will it happen next season instead?
Hanson: "Yes, definitely more next year. We'd love to find somebody great to play Booth's granddad—In a perfect world, James Garner. I think David is James Garner-ish. We'd love to do more with Booth's son, Parker, too."
Natalie in Chicago: When are Brennan and Angela going to have more heart-to-heart chats? Because I really love them together.
Deschanel (Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan): "We love when we get those heart-to-heart chats, and there's definitely some coming up. Actually, there's an episode about my father's trial, because he has murdered the deputy director of the FBI, blah blah blah, and Angela refuses to testify against my father. There are some really wonderful scenes between us in that episode."
Amy in Houston: Will the Gormagon storyline be wrapped up before the end of season three?
Hanson: "Yes."
Elise: Any chance that Zack is Gormagon?
Millegan (Dr. Zack Addy): "I am not Gormagon."
Annie: Is Naomi, from the paleontology department, Gormagon?
Nathan: "No. I think we are safe to eliminate Naomi from the paleontology department from the Gorgamon list."
Jessica in Phoenix: Is it possible that Dr. Sweets is Gormagon?
Daley (Dr. Lance Sweets): "Can't say. I will say that Gormagon is a very nice mean man/woman."
Tina in Connecticut: How many more episodes are you shooting?
Hanson: "We're currently shooting our second episode back from the strike, and that's the first two of the eight we are shooting through the end of June. The last two of that eight will be a two-parter shot on location in London, England—we hope. The two that we'll shoot in England are supposed to air as the season four premiere on August 26, and then the middle four episodes of those eight will air after the season premiere, in September."
Amber in the U.K.: What is the title of the season-three finale?
Hanson: "It is called 'The Pain in the Heart.' "
Marnie in Bodega Bay, Calif.: Will David Boreanaz ever direct an episode of Bones like he did when he was on Angel?
Yes! According to Hart Hanson during the panel, David will direct an episode in season four.
Mrs. Lee: I know they will have to deal with the Christmas kiss, but will there be other kisses for them to deal with?
Deschanel: "I can't really say. Let's just say that [the Christmas kiss] makes us feel very awkward—and we have to face some emotions..."
Julie in Boston: Are there any more kisses coming up?
Hanson: "Yes, there are kisses coming up for people you care about."
—Reporting by Jennifer Godwin