It looks like new "Castle" character Hayley Shipton, to be played by "Neighbors" star Toks Olagundoye is going to be a positive influence instead of a disruptive one (as what fans first assumed) in Rick Castle (Nathan Fillion) and Kate Beckett's (Stana Katic) lives, since she will become somewhat like a big sister and role model to Castle's growing daughter Alexis (Molly C. Quinn).

Showrunners told TV Line that Alexis in season 8 is already in her 20s, and she is now "a young woman as opposed to a child," and she will find a special kinship in Scotland Yard alum-turned-security specialist Hayley Shipton.

"Hayley is going to help Alexis find herself," said co-showrunner Terence Paul Winter, who sees the two sharing "a different kind of energy" as compared to what Alexis had with Beckett's best friend M.E. Lanie when she interned for her. "What we've shot with Alexis and Hayley together is magic, it really is."

Meanwhile, co-showrunner Alexi Hawley told fans not to look for any trouble between Beckett and Alexis' relationship when Alexis develops a special friendship with Hayley, since there aren't any.

"We like the idea of Hayley as a mentor to Alexis in a way that Beckett has been, but because she's also Castle's wife, ultimately Hayley can play a little bit more of an older sister," Hawley explained. "This season is really about growing Molly up. She's been playing the child for seven seasons and now she's 21 years old. She's a grown-up. This year, she's going to be more sophisticated. That relationship with her father will change because she's not a little girl anymore."

Castle has struggled with Alexis' growth throughout the show, and it really broke his heart when she temporarily moved out of his apartment and had a boyfriend.

There are several other developments when "Castle" season 8 returns to the small screen on September 21. Beckett has just been promoted as Captain of the 12th Precinct so she now has a new working dynamic with her husband and colleagues Ryan, Esposito, and Lanie. Castle's mom Martha is moving out of their apartment but that does not mean less screen time for the budding actress.

Also, the offer given to Beckett to run as senator is not completely off the table yet, according to producers, but for now they would like to keep Beckett in the precinct since solving cases is what's truly in the heart of the long-running show.