Why Jesse Tyler Ferguson Got Cold Feet on the Modern Family Spinoff

Jesse Tyler Ferguson recently opened up about his reluctance to jump into a potential spinoff ofModern Family, and his reasons might surprise you. After years of portraying Mitchell Pritchett alongside Eric Stonestreet’s Cameron Tucker, Ferguson felt it was time to explore new roles—especially during a pandemic that threw a wrench in everyone’s plans. The idea of continuing the characters’ lives in Missouri sounded appealing, but the urge to try something different weighed heavily on him.

Ferguson’s craving for new experiences was fueled by the reality that he had been playing Mitchell for over a decade. He expressed a desire to“date other people”in the acting world, hinting that he was ready to see what else was out there. Eric Stonestreet chimed in as well, revealing that a solid script had been written for the spinoff but ultimately shot down by ABC, leaving fans of Mitch and Cam wondering what could have been. Sometimes, the heart just wants to pursue new adventures—who could blame him for wanting to break away from the past?