Will ‘One Life’ Be ‘Born’ Again?

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — Will Roscoe Born be bringing former cult leader Mitch Laurence back to Llanview?

Is he, or isn’t he? That is the question countless “One Life to Live” fans have been asking themselves in recent weeks. The answer depends on which source you choose to believe.

According to ABC Soaps in Depth, Born will return to “OLTL” for a short stint in the coming months to tie up loose ends to a storyline sidetracked by last year’s writers strike. That storyline involved Allison Perkins stalking Jessica Brennan, all the while claiming that she had possession of a DVD that contained a secret to her past. However, during a struggle at last year’s Go Red Ball, the DVD was destroyed and Allison fell into a coma, and has yet to regain conciseness. The storyline proved bittersweet for “OLTL” Head Writer Ron Carlivati, who was forced to watch the tale he penned play out as envisioned by Gary Tomlin when the sudser fell victim to the industry mandated strike. There has also been lingering speculation that Mitch Laurence may also be Rex Balsom’s long lost father.

However, just when it seemed as if Born’s return to Llanview was a done deal, a “OLTL” spokesperson told TV Guide that, with regards to Born’s rumored comeback, “it’s not happening, but various faces from the past may show up in Llanview this spring. You’ll have to watch to find out.” Hmmm…. Could one of those ‘various faces from the past’ be Andrea Evans? The soap diva returned to “One Life to Live” last June after an 18-year absence to reprise her signature role of Tina Lord Roberts, only to leave again before year’s end. Well, that remains to be seen. Although the actress is rumored to be returning to Llanview again this spring, and her bio. is still up with the rest of the “OLTL” cast at the ABC Medianet website, however talk of Evans returning is not much more than speculation at this point.

As for Born, he placed Llanview under his spell when he premiered as charismatic cult leader Mitch Laurence in 1985. After leaving the show the following year, he returned briefly in 1987, and again from 2002-2003. Could “OLTL” be contemplating a second return from the dead storyline involving Mitch Laurence, or could the villain reach out from the grave to reveal his daughter Jessica’s supposed secret? And what would Mitch’s return mean for his brother Miles who, along with his portrayer David Chisum, seems to have dropped off the face of the earth? So many questions…so few answers. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Network as we continue to follow this developing story.

“One Life to Live” airs Weekdays on ABC. Weeknights on SOAPnet. Check local listings.