ABC's Mandy Moore Comedy Pilot Tweaks Character, Recasts Actor

EXCLUSIVE: ABC untitled Mandy Moore comedy pilot has decided to revamp a supporting character after the table read. As a result, James Pumphrey, who had been cast in the part, is being replaced with newcomer Mike Castle. The single-camera project, directed by Shawn Levy, centers on newlyweds Annie (Moore) and Ben (Nelson Franklin), who get the opportunity of a lifetime to run a hip, new restaurant in Annie’s hometown bringing her closer to her needy and high-maintenance family. The character that is being reworked is Annie’s younger brother Zach. I hear that early on the pilot’s producers were interested in Castle for the role. However, the character underwent significant changes in subsequent drafts, which led to auditioning other actors, with Pumphrey winning the part. But after the table read, the producers revisited the original concept for Zach and opted to revert to it, casting Castle in the role. Castle, repped by Principato-Young, is a young improv actor who currently studies at UCB and The Groundlings and previously trained at Second City Chicago.