Modern Family cast

Modern Family has taken another step toward re-casting Baby Lily: The ABC comedy is spreading the word around the casting community that it is looking for an “Asian, 3-to 4-year-old” to play the daughter of Mitchell and Cameron. The role is currently played by Jaden and Ella Hiller, the docile and very quiet twins who have traded off portraying Lily for the last two seasons.

There is still a chance the Hillers will stay on the show, but the writers want to keep their options open. The show resumes production next month in Los Angeles. “We adore Jaden and Ella, but have started to think that they’d rather be at home playing than working as actors,” executive producer Steve Levitan told EW. “If we end up making a change, it’s only because we want what’s best for them.”

In May, Levitan told EW that at some point, Lily has to stop being a silent baby and start becoming a laughing little girl. “We all may determine that as gorgeous and sweet as Jaden and Ella are, it’s not what they signed up to do or what they love,” he said. “Maybe they don’t love to be on a set and have to listen to us do a scene 10 times. Maybe they would be happier being kids. We don’t want them to be unhappy. If we feel it’s not in their best interest to stay, we will replace them, and ask that people forgive us for doing so.”