Nathan Fillion is returning to ABC.
The Castle alum has booked a multiple-episode role on the network’s Modern Family, co-creator Steve Levitan told reporters Thursday at the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour.
Levitan, speaking after an ABC comedy showrunner panel, noted that Fillion will join the Emmy-winning family comedy and play a weatherman who goes by the best TV name yet: Rainer Shine. He will appear in at least three episodes.
Fillion will join Martin Short on the upcoming eighth season of Modern Family, with Levitan also revealing that the Maya and Marty star who next has a role on NBC’s Hairspray Live will appear in episode two as Merv Schechter, a promotional maven.
For Fillion, the role marks his return to ABC after the network’s surprising decision to cancel Monday night veteran procedural Castle following its eight-season run. The move was the biggest head-scratcher of the upfronts given that the series was produced in-house by ABC Studios, had publicly fired female lead and fan favorite Stana Katic and went through the trouble of negotiating new contracts with its cast — including Fillion — only to ax the sturdy performer in favor of a new roster of procedurals.
For Fillion, the Modern Family role also marks his largest comedy part to date on the small screen. He most recently was among the ensemble cast of web series Con Man and co-starred in Joss Whedon’s Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, among other comedic voice roles. He is repped by CAA and Jackoway Tyerman.
Modern Family is set to return Wednesday, Sept. 21, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
