Lisa Edelstein will not be returning for the eighth and final season of House.

Aside from Hugh Laurie, a number of series regulars have been operating under expiring contracts this year, but Omar Epps and Robert Sean Leonard both signed new deals last week.

It's been assumed Edelstein would follow suit and Cuddy would play a major role on the show's concluding run, but the actress released a statement this afternoon that reads:

“After much consideration, I am moving onward with a combination of disappointment at leaving behind a character I have loved playing for seven years and excitement of the new opportunities in acting and producing that lie ahead.”

Will Monday's finale set the stage for Edelstein's departure? It seems unlikely, though this preview makes it clear that something goes terribly wrong between Cuddy and her ex.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.