In the Season 3 finale of Fox's "Sleep Hollow," female lead Abbie Mills, played by actress Nicole Beharie, made the ultimate sacrifice in order to defeat the Hidden One. She offered her life as one of the Witnesses, allowing her sister Jenny (played by Lyndie Greenwood) to shoot down and put an end to one of the show's most fearsome baddies. Mills' death on the show drew gasps from fans. But is this really the last of Beharie's role on the show?
Beharie is one half of the show's lead stars, tagging along as Ichabod Crane's partner in solving the mysterious cases and battling supernatural forces in "Sleepy Hollow." Showrunner Clifton Campbell pointed out that Mills' tragic death was a "dramatic ending and bold move for the show."
"We feel we provided a wonderfully poignant conclusion for Abbie and showed some of the best moments between the Witnesses that we've seen onscreen," The Hollywood Reporter quoted Campbell as saying.
Even co-star Tom Mison is saddened by Beharie's exit from "Sleepy Hollow," describing her as the show's true shining star. "Abbie is the one the audience can relate to so when you're entering this insane world of Sleepy Hollow, you go with Abbie. She's been the guide and Ichabod is this insane man in the periphery," E! News quoted Mison as saying.
He added that that having a woman of color in the lead role made a huge impact to viewers across America.
"It comes to symbolize so much more. So when something like this happens, when they kill off said character, of course it's going to mean an awful lot more, consequently," he commented on the Mills kicking the bucket on the show.
While it has been confirmed that "Sleepy Hollow" has been picked up for a fourth season, the show is said to be moving forward without Beharie. According to Campbell, there will "exciting scenarios and new avenues" to be explored in "Sleepy Hollow" Season 4.
Based on the show's nature and subject matter, an Abbie Mills reincarnation or apparition is not that far-fetched, as the show could easily bring back the character in one form or another.
In the meantime, Mison confirmed that "Sleepy Hollow" Season 4 will take Crane to Washington where he joins a secret society devoted to dealing with supernatural matters.
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