So it looks like all the talk, both official and unofficial, about Pooch Hall exiting BET's hit sitcom The Game, may all be reversed, as the actor now says that, actually, for the record, his deal is still being worked out as we speak, and that he's not officially done with the series, and he definitely wants to come back. In fact, he adds that you shouldn't be surprised if he does indeed come back to The Game.

So what's the deal? 

Apparently, there were some contract and scheduling issues, because Pooch was cast in a new Showtime series called Ray Donovan, as his existing contract with The Game was at its end; and Showtime went ahead and picked up the series to order, for next season, which in turn created some production scheduling challenges, in that, Pooch can't shoot both shows at the same time, partly because 1 shoots in LA (Ray Donovan) and the other in Atlanta (The Game). 

So after it was revealed that Showtime did pick up the series, and Pooch learned that he could still do both shows without any legal or scheduling issues, his people and BET/The Game had to then work out a new contract, because his original contract was expiring. 

It looks like upon that expiration, there may have been some doubts as to whether he would return, after the Showtime series got picked up (because Pooch wants to explore other opportunities, and not be stuck doing the same thing for too long – as he said, he wants to have a Will Smith-type of career). 

But, according to his official statement, setting the record straight, he's not out of The Game as previously thought, even though BET/producers of The Game have already added 2 new cast members to the series, who are to replace both he and Tia Mowry – the other actor said to be leaving the show and not returning.

"Have faith. It's being worked out," he said in the recent video interview below (courtesy of our friends at eurweb). He says a lot more than that, so listen to the 15-minute conversation below.

As for this Ray Donovan Showtime Project, this is the first I'm hearing of it.

It will star actor Liev Schreiber as L.A.’s best professional “trouble shooter." 

He is the one called in to solve the complicated, confidential and controversial problems of the city’s elite. He can make anyone’s problems disappear, but he can’t escape the problems created by his own damaged Boston “Southie” family.

Reminds me of Scandal.

Among the stellar cast of this new drama are Jon Voight and Elliot Gould, who will play the ex-con Donovan clan patriarch and Ray’s long-time client and mentor respectively, as well as Eddie Marsan and Dash Mihok, who will play Ray’s brothers, and actress Paula Malcomson as Ray’s wife. 

It's not clear what character Pooch Hall will play in this, but he's in it, so we'll find out more as the new season gets closer to starting.

Hall also has the indie drama Live At The Foxes Den coming up. So clearly he's busy.

Watch the interview below: