Mindy Kaling Gives Mindy Project Scoop on Cast Changes, Seth Rogen Appearance

The cast changes at The Mindy Project continue.

Recurring star Ike Barinholtz — who plays Morgan and also writes for the freshman Fox sitcom — has been promoted to a series regular, star, creator and executive producer Mindy Kaling revealed at Fox's winter TV previews Tuesday.

The promotion is the most recent of many for The Mindy Project. Stephen Tobolwsky exited in December, Amanda Setton will also soon be departing, and series regular Anna Camp has been bumped down to recurring status so that she can pursue other TV projects in addition to her role on the show. "Her part on the show hasn't changed story-wise. It's a workplace show so we weren't using her as much," Kaling said. "We would love to see her do other stuff."

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Added Barinholtz: "We're still planning to use her in a ton of episodes."

To fill the hole left by Setton and — to an extent — Camp, later this season The Mindy Project will add two new female actresses: Beth Grant and Mary Grill, who will play the college BFF of Mindy's character.

However, when asked about bigger thematic changes on The Mindy Project since the pilot, Barinholtz argued he thinks the show has stayed true to its original vision. "What I took away from the pilot is that her life is kind of a mess," Barinholtz said. "I think very episode hits a different angle of that. [Like Mindy's] messy take on aone-night stand."

Seth Rogen to guest-star on The Mindy Project

Following the very messy breakup between Dr. Mindy and her cheating boyfriend Josh (Tommy Dewey) in the Christmas episode, the comedy will also play host to at least two new love interests, one played by Kaling's former on-screen and off-screen boyfriend, B.J. Novak, and one played by Seth Rogen. Rogen, as announced earlier Tuesday, will play the boy who gave Mindy her first kiss at Jewish summer camp ("It's a departure for him to play a Jewish man," Barinholtz joked). "I just watched Before Sunrise. I love two people just talking, and Seth is just so fun to talk to," Kaling said. "There are some interesting twists about what's happened to his character since [summer camp]."

Kaling also said fans can expect to see flashback versions of herself and Rogen from their characters' younger years. The show is currently casting for both roles, something that Kaling called "really weird and fun."

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Mindy's breakup with Josh will also result in some noticeable personal shifts — namely her quest to become a better person — when the series returns with new episodes Tuesday (9:30/8:30c on Fox). "The idea of her wanting to become a better person -- tonight's episode is about New Year's resolutions, and I think there's a renewed sense of: What are the five things I need to do to be a better person?" Kaling said. "Every episode, we come up with something we've been thinking about in the writer's room."

And those changes aren't just in her personal life. The League's Mark Duplass will return as Mindy's work nemesis and a popular midwife who teaches Mindy a thing or two. "It's not just personally, but professionally, she becomes a little bit more open-minded about things," Kaling said.

The Mindy Project airs Tuesdays at 9:30/8:30c on Fox. Are you excited for the new faces on the series?