Rachel, Finn and Kurt Not Leaving 'Glee'? Plus, Season Three Spoilers

Remember when "Glee" creator Ryan Murphy recently stated that Lea Michele, Chris Colfer and Cory Monteith were dunzo after the upcoming season? That statement, which left many fans of the show angry and threatening boycott, was deftly rescinded at Comic-Con this Sunday.

"Glee" co-creator and executive producer Brad Falchuk told the packed room at San Diego's convention center that the rumors of Rachel, Finn and Kurt's going off into the show-choir sunset were greatly exaggerated.

“It was never our plan or our intention to let them go" Falchuk said. "They are not done with the show after this season.”

The news that Michele, Colfer and Monteith would be moving on after the upcoming third season was started by co-creator Ryan Murphy himself. Apparently, however, Murphy was just speaking about the character's upcoming graduation out of McKinley High, not off the show altogether.

“Here’s the exact thing: [Rachel, Kurt and Finn] are seniors, so they’re graduating, but because they’re graduating doesn’t mean they’re leaving the show," Falchuk told the sold out crowd. "If you have Lea Michele under contract, you don’t say, ‘We’re gonna let you go.’”

Warning: Big Spoilers Ahead

Sadly this doesn't mean the cast for the upcoming season will be 100% unchanged. The rumors that Chord Overstreet and his trouty mouth will not be returning for next season have turned out to be true. Falchuk explained that producers offered to drop Overstreet down from a series regular to a more recurring basis, planning a 10-episode arc for his character with the possibility of bringing him back full time again. Unfortunately, Overstreet turned down the offer and will not be returning at all.

 “We wanted him back because we like Chord personally and had some good stories planned for him and with Mercedes. He decided he would have opportunities elsewhere that he would like to pursue, and we can’t force him to work, so we wished him well,” Falchuk explained.

Other upcoming tidbits for season three?

- The audience will find out which characters are juniors and which characters are seniors in the opening episode. (Jenna Ushkowitz's Tina is a junior, while Colfer, Michele and Monteith at least are seniors.)

- Powerhouse vocalist Mercedes will finally find herself a man, although sadly not Overstreet's Sam as hinted in the finale.

- The season will be split in two with each part representing a semester.

- Jane Lynch's grumpy and hilarious Sue Sylvester  will be running for Congress for some reason.

What do you think? Ryan Murphy talked a big game about being realistic and not keeping seniors on the show after they graduate, but now that's exactly what they're doing. Are you happy that Rachel, Finn and Kurt are staying? Sad Chord Overstreet is gone?