'Castle' Season 8 Cast News: Beckett Replacement Chosen? Who Joins Nathan Fillion After Stana Katic Leaves?

While the "Castle" real-life drama surrounding Stana Katic's departure was going on, viewers might not have noticed that the show has been laying the groundwork for Beckett's replacement. So, who's joining Nathan Fillion on "Castle" Season 9? The show might have been hinting it in Season 8.

A couple of weeks ago, "Castle" dedicated an episode to Hayley Shipton (Toks Olagundoye), whose past as an MI6 agent was probed further. With her life as a secret agent on the line, Haley was ready to "disappear." But with the help of Beckett, Castle and the rest of the team, including Castle's daughter Alexis (Molly Quinn), she decided she now belongs to this group. She declines an offer from the British spy agency to return and chose to stay put in America, per Entertainment Weekly.

'Castle' Cast News: Castle And Haley?

Now, this might be a way for the show to prepare Olagundoye in the lead role alongside Nathan Fillion next season. "Castle" Season 9 is supposed to have a "significant time jump," as a way to reset the series when Stana Katic leaves, per TV Line. But before that has to happen, "Castle" will end in a "less than ideal" scenario. While this could hint death for Stana Katic's character, Beckett, it could also mean the show is eyeing Haley to take her place as Castle's partner in the investigations.

Castle needs to make a life-threatening decision. https://t.co/fBdPJL6WxI pic.twitter.com/FqIdvDjmmr

— Castle (@Castle_ABC) April 29, 2016

'Castle' Cast News: Castle And Alex?

The only problem? Haley was introduced as a new character in a semi-regular status for Season 8 and the shake-up didn't settle well with the fans. Yet, somehow "Castle" has found lots of ways to use Haley this season and she has even started teaching Alexis some detective work.

So, if a Castle/Haley is an unexpected and unpopular pair up, then a father-daughter detective team with Castle and Alexis next season might become another interesting story to pursue. After all, the show's producers did say that they have been preparing different possibilities for "Castle" once Stana Katic leaves, as Parent Herald previously reported.

The only thing that's missing now is a renewal for Season 9 from ABC./ So, what do you think "Castle" viewers? Which potential "new" partner for Rick Castle will make you want to watch the show for another season?