With Al Calderon being cast as a series regular on “Brilliant Minds,” it looks like “Days of our Lives” will indeed be recasting the role of Javi Hernandez.
Although a spokesperson for the daytime drama series told Soap Opera Network, “We do not comment on the contract status of our actors, but fans should not worry, ‘Javi’ is alive and well in Salem,” following news of Calderon joining the NBC primetime medical drama, Deadline reported on Wednesday that the soap opera is seeking to recast his role.
According to the outlet, Calderon has been busy taping new episodes of “Days of our Lives,” which are slated to air in May 2026.
Calderon first appeared in Salem in October 2024, though he began taping episodes at the soap opera in February 2024, a result of the soap’s advanced tape-to-air schedule.
Inspired by the extraordinary life and work of world-famous author and physician Oliver Sacks, “Brilliant Minds” follows Dr. Oliver Wolf (Zachary Quinto), a revolutionary, larger-than-life neurologist and his team of interns as they explore the last great frontier – the human mind – while grappling with their own relationships and mental health.
Calderon will portray Nurse Silva on the series, who is described as the Mayor of Bronx General. With his ability to run the hospital while looking good doing it, his warm, funny and outgoing charm may or may not be the reason why he knows everything about everyone at work.
In addition to Calderon, new cast members joining the show during Season 2 include Brian Altemus and John Clarence Stewart, with the former playing Dr. Charlie Porter, the new neurology resident who is guarded, competitive and hiding something from his fellow doctors. Meanwhile, Stewart will play Dr. Anthony Thorne, a mid-career ER doctor who’s grown a little too comfortable with the maxim that emergency medicine is blue-collar work.
The series cast also includes Tamberla Perry as Dr. Carol Pierce, Ashleigh LaThrop as Ericka Kinney, Alex MacNicoll as Dr. Van Markus, Aury Krebs, Spence Moore II as Jacob Nash, Teddy Sears as Dr. Josh Nichols (“One Life to Live”) and Donna Murphy as Dr. Muriel Landon. Bellamy Young (“Scandal”) recently signed on as a recurring guest star.
“Brilliant Minds” was created by Michael Grassi, who also serves as writer and executive producer. Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman, Lee Toland Krieger, DeMane Davis, Melissa Aouate, Henrik Bastin, Jonathan Cavendish, Andy Serkis and Shefali Malhoutra also executive produce.
Berlanti Productions, Fabel Entertainment, The Imaginarium, Grassi Productions and Tavala produce in association with Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.
Season 2 of the medical drama premieres Monday, September 22 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT, following “The Voice.”
