Comings & Goings

Elia Cantu, Jada Hunter, Days of our Lives

Warner Bros. Animation is developing a new TV series adaptation of “Dark Shadows,” based on the classic gothic soap opera and the father of the modern-day vampire, Barnabas Collins.

With new head writers on the horizon it was inevitable that “Days of our Lives” would also be getting a new teen scene, especially with what executive producer Ken Corday says to TV Insider‘s Michael Logan of something his late mother, Betty, used to share with him: “‘You have to water the roots of the [Days of our Lives] tree with a new generation every 10 years or so’ and that’s what we’ve done,” notes Corday to Logan. “These are the children of the children of the children of the children, and they are vital to our future.”

While only appearing in a handful of episodes of CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” in 2013 as Father Martin, actor Miles Gaston Villanueva is set to return to the soap next month in the newly created role of Luca Santori, a charming and mysterious Spanish prince from a wealthy family. The role is said to be recurring.

Eight months after it was announced that he would be vacating the role of Kyle Sloane on ABC’s “General Hospital” comes word that actor Robb Derringer will be reprising the role he originated from outgoing “As The World Turns” alum Grayson McCouch (ex-Dusty Donovan). Sources tell Soap Opera Network that producers decided to take the character in a different direction, which prompted the change.

While it had long been rumored, the day has finally come where fans will soon get ready to say goodbye to Luke Spencer on ABC’s “General Hospital.” In an interview with TV Insider‘s Michael Logan, portrayer Anthony Geary explains why he chose the leave the series, what viewers might expect for Luke’s final chapter, reuniting with Genie Francis (Laura Spencer) at the recent Daytime Emmy Awards, and again on screen in the coming weeks and months ahead, and much more.

The reunion of Luke and Laura Spencer on Sunday night’s “Daytime Emmys” telecast appears to have been just a tease of what’s to come on ABC’s “General Hospital.” The network announced today that Genie Francis will once again reprise her iconic role as the matriarch of the Spencer clan alongside eight time Emmy winner, Anthony Geary.

Sydney born actor Alexander Bruszt, 32, is joining the cast of NBC’s “Days of our Lives” after winning the Search for a Star casting search that began in March. Bruszt beat out fellow Aussies Andrew Steel and Tom Dalzell for the coveted contract role of Flynn, a handsome, rugged Australian doctor who arrives in Salem to do his residency, specifically to gain skills as a surgeon, working under the supervision of Doctor Jonas (Shawn Christian).

After playing Damon, a henchman who shot Clyde (James Read) in January and left the mobster for dead in Salem Park, a now short-haired Paul Telfer returned to “Days of our Lives” in the newly created role of Xander Cook in late March, one of the town’s newest big bads who also happens to share a past with Serena Mason (Melissa Archer). But could the character actually turn out to be the long missed son of Justin Kiriakis (Wally Kurth) and Anjelica Curtis? If today’s episode is anything to go by, it’s a definite possibility.