‘The Fosters’ season 3 spoilers: ‘Austin & Ally’ actor to replace Jake T. Austin as Jesus

We admit that we were very surprised to learn the news that ABC Family was going to recast the role of Jesus on “The Fosters.” They put themselves in a position at the end of season to write out the character, but decided in the end not to and to keep him alive. Jake T. Austin was very memorable in the role, and while recasting main characters is common for daytime soaps, it’s a little more rare for primetime shows. Typically the only roles on these shows to get recast are ones that are relatively minor, similar to the Mountain on “Game of Thrones.”

So who is stepping into this character’s shoes? The network has announced that it will be former “Austin & Ally” star Noah Centineo. He will first appear later this season, and the show will thankfully put a little distance between the end of the Jake T. Austin era and the start of this one. We feel for the actor here, mostly because trying to step into these shoes will be a lot of work.

Luckily, at least Centineo is joining one of the warmest and most welcoming shows out there, and he should bond rather quickly with the cast. “The Fosters” has become a little bit of a sleeper hit for the network; while it may never draw huge ratings like “Pretty Little Liars,” it has found a devoted audience and has drawn headlines for many stories, including the pairing of Jude and Connor.

After finishing its run of episodes this summer, most likely “The Fosters” will return for more starting in early 2016. Stay tuned.

For now, head over here to preview Monday night’s new episode further, and you can sign up here to get some more TV updates on all we cover, courtesy of our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: ABC Family.)