Maggie Grace's (Shannon) absence from the beginning of the new season will be explained by a significant change to Shannon and Boone's (Ian Somerhalder) backstory.
Sawyer (Josh Holloway) will smooch someone who is either Kate (Evangeline Lilly) or Juliet (Elizabeth Mitchell), and it will happen within the first four hours of the new season.
(Reminder: Maggie was the Lostie I referred to earlier in a blind item as a "holdout," who was busy shooting back-to-back movies when she was first offered a return to Lost. She may appear later in the season.)
Source: E!Online
