Eric Stonestreet says ‘it felt a little hurtful’ when a Mitch and Cam ‘Modern Family’ spinoff was rejected

Fans may never see the continuation of Cameron and Mitch’s journey after “Modern Family.” Eric Stonestreet, who portrayed Cameron, recently opened up about his disappointment regarding a proposed sitcom spinoff that ultimately did not come to fruition during an interview with Graham Bensinger.

The spinoff would have explored the lives of the beloved couple, played by Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson, along with their daughter Lily, portrayed by Aubrey Anderson Emmons, as they transitioned from California to Missouri. Stonestreet was enthusiastic about the project when it was first pitched.

“They had their chance. [‘Modern Family’ co-creator] Chris Lloyd and some writers crafted a fantastic script that would have taken Jesse and me to Missouri,” he shared. However, the response was a flat rejection. “They just said, ‘No.’ They didn’t want to do it,” he lamented.

This decision was disheartening for Stonestreet, who holds a deep affection for “Modern Family.” “I love my character. I love the show,” he expressed. He praised his chemistry with Ferguson, noting their strong working relationship. Yet, he speculated that the decision-makers may have perceived them as “the old guys” and deemed them unworthy of further exploration in the franchise.

“It felt a little hurtful,” Stonestreet admitted, while also acknowledging the business nature of such decisions.

The envisioned sequel would have centered on the family welcoming a baby boy and relocating to the Midwest so Cam could chase his dream of becoming a college football coach. Stonestreet believed this concept had great potential. “It would have been a slam dunk,” he said, emphasizing that the right creative team was in place to make it successful. “If ABC had said ‘Let’s do it,’ I think we’d be on right now.”

“Modern Family,” which aired for 11 seasons from 2009 to 2020, garnered immense popularity and won 22 Primetime Emmy Awards during its impressive run. The legacy of the show remains strong, but the potential spinoff serves as a reminder of what could have been for Stonestreet and Ferguson’s characters.