After Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage somewhat stepped down from the day to day to focus on their other endeavors (mostly running a TV production company), the showrunner title for Gossip Girl fell to executive producer Josh Safran. Safran dedicated much of the fifth season of the series to more season-long story arcs as opposed to the very quick-paced storytelling the show is known for. Because of that, Safran will not be in charge of dictating the sixth and final season of the show.

Though no one has confirmed next season be the series’ last, let alone that it’s happening at all, numerous credible reports have surfaced in the last month that The CW is nearing a shortened episode-order renewal.

However, , after CW prez Mark Pedowitz heard Safran’s pitch for the final season, he was none too pleased. Pedowitz imagined a more ‘back to basics’ approach for the series’ swan song; Safran, on the other hand, did not. The tension between both creatives has caused a ripple effect — and the collateral damage is Safran, who has decided to step down due to the conflict. The scenario is being compared to reports of Frank Darabont’s end as Walking Dead showrunner (either he was fired or he quit) summer of last year.

There’s discussion that he will remain as consulting producer.

Now that Safran has stepped down comes the question: who should replace him? Schwartz and Savage will, undoubtedly, remain at the helm of the project — but their other series have given them little time to focus entirely on the one show currently. That said, names being thrown around are co-producer Jake Coburn and producer Josh Stephens, who produced several The OC episodes and even wrote a dozen. Who do you think should replace him?

Oh, and also… click the link to the Deadline report, you guys! Did I get cha!?