In the upcoming 'Castle' Season, fans will see Rick (Nathan Fillion) spending lots of time with the new character named Hayley.

Quoting TV Line, Latin Post reports that new developments in the upcoming season of the crime drama television series on ABC may leave many regulars of the show wondering what implication this could have on the apparently once blossoming relationship between Rick and Kate Beckett (Stana Katic).

An earlier report in TV Line stated that show executives were auditioning actors for the Hayley's role, which was described as "a quick-witted, free-spirited former LAPD cop," currently working as a security specialist. It was also reported that ABC executives were particularly looking for either a black or Latina actress in her 20s to portray the character.

Aside from the question related to the relationship between Castle and Beckett, probably viewers are also wondering why it has become important for the show to look for a character who is a security expert. They are wondering if Hayley is someone whom Castle and Beckett met while working on one of their high-pressured cases, or is the character someone whom Beckett may require as part of her security detail during her supposed candidacy for New York Senate.

Moreoever, there are rumors that the show will be casting for the "major recurring" role of a skittish, East Indian male tech analyst.

Irrespective of the changes 'Castle' may be undergoing between Season 7 finale and Season 8 premiere, these are trivial compared to what ABC executives might have faced if they didn't take the initiative in the eleventh hour to bring back Stana Katic to reprise her role as Beckett.

In fact, the contracts of both Katic and Fillion expired at the end of Season 7, and officials of the network were able to get Katic sign on a new contract only recently.

When asked if they had a second plan regarding the direction of the sho in case Katic had declined to renew her contract, new 'Castle' co-showrunner, Alexi Hawley told TV Line, "There's always a Plan B," adding, "But it would have been a fundamentally different show, and that would've been quite a mountain to climb."

The premiere episode of 'Castle' Season 8 will air at 10 p.m. ET/ PT on Sept. 21 on ABC.