'Glee' Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Chris Colfer 'won't leave after season three'

Published Jul 24 2011, 19:59 BST  |  By Tom Ayres

Glee co-creator Brad Falchuk has downplayed reports that cast members Lea Michele, Cory Monteith and Chris Colfer will leave the show at the end of season three.

It has been widely reported that Glee characters Rachel, Finn, and Kurt will leave the show next year - however, Falchuk has claimed at Comic-Con International today that the rumours are extremely premature.

'Cory, Lea, Chris are seniors, but they're graduating," Falchuk explained. "Just because they're graduating, it doesn't mean they're leaving the show.

"If you have Lea Michele under contract you're not just going to let her go. I can guarantee here that they are not done with the show after this season."

Falchuk also dismissed claims that the show's creators are planning a spinoff series featuring Rachel and Kurt's adventures on Broadway.

"We explored that as a possibility," he admitted. "We're leaning against a spinoff right now. I think we're going to pass."

While the first two seasons of Glee were purposefully vague about each character's age, Falchuk also claimed that this will be addressed early on in season three.

"Come the first episode back, you see who the seniors and juniors are," he promised. "Some of our seniors will not graduate."

Lea Michele recently said that she was happy with the decision for her character to leave the show.

The third season of Glee will premiere in the US on September 20, with a UK premiere date still to be confirmed.

Digital Spy is bringing you exclusive videos, pictures and live panel blogs from Comic-Con all weekend - view our full coverage of the event here.

Watch the trailer for Glee: The 3D Concert Movie, which is released on August 12 in the US and August 19 in the UK, below: