Chris Colfer Says Departure from Glee 'Not My Choice'

It's a bittersweet week for Glee star Chris Colfer as the actor earned an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Kurt Hummel, but also learned he and co-stars Lea Michele and Cory Monteith will no longer be a part of the show after the third season.

"I think the overall breaking news of it surprised me," Colfer told the Los Angeles Times. "I definitely wasn't expecting that. It's definitely not my choice to leave the show, but I understand it's the right choice."

Kurt, along with characters Rachel and Finn, will depart Glee as they graduate from McKinley High School. "The show is very real. To have the character grow up and leave and graduate, it's the right thing to do," Colfer said of series creator Ryan Murphy's decision. "I think it's more of a big deal because not too many shows have ever done it before. We see the characters until they're in their early 30s."

So where does Colfer see Kurt heading in the future? "I always imagined him running his own magazine. Kurtain magazine—it would be like a Vogue-type publication." Colfer also notes that his character's storyline will follow a "lighter, comical" direction during the season. "I'm tired of crying in every scene." Things will surely get emotional for the actor come departure time in spring 2012. "It's planned and I'm sure it will be a nice goodbye."