Days Of Our Lives
DAYS Co-EP Greg Meng Opens Up About The Departure Of Chandler Massey!
Photo Credit: Adam Campbell
There had been much controversy over the one day Chandler Massey was playing Will Horton on Days of our Lives, and the next day it was over, and he was told by DAYS executives that he had just filmed his last episode. So, what happened from the DAYS perspective?
The Backlot spoke to Greg Meng, the co-executive producer of Days of our Lives who has been the man behind the introduction of the first gay male characters (Sonny and Will) and their love story in the long running history of the NBC soap. Meng speaks on Chandler’s departure and his replacement in the role Guy Wilson.
Meng said on Chandler’s departure: “It’s real simple. There was a lot of accuracy and inaccuracy in the press. Chandler is not on the show right now. We have an incredible actor on board that is able to take the reins from this role that Chandler did an amazing job creating. And we found somebody who’s extremely talented… but more than talented, he’s so sensitive to this role and so sensitive to the story and the relationship and all that stuff. So we feel that we were very, very lucky to find somebody who wanted to take the reins. It’s an extremely difficult thing to do because Chandler had created such a wonderful role here, played it so sensitively and everything. So we think we found him, and we are very lucky to have somebody that will take those reins that Chandler handed to him and go forward with that. No ugliness, no weirdness. It was all done within the family, with Chandler and everything based on his future plans and based on where we needed to go with the story. I even told Chandler, I said laughingly, ‘This is your fault because you’ve created such an amazing character here and the storyline is so amazing and we’ve got major places to go with that and we can’t lose momentum.’ He was always fine with that, but he’s got plans. So it all worked out very well. It’s just gotten some misinterpretation out there.”
Courtesy/IMDB
Meng said on Guy Wilson’s arrival: “You obviously look for some sort of physical similarity on some level. You’re not looking for a cookie cutter because these are human beings and actors, and they have to make the part their own. But it’s beyond just looks. It has a lot to do with the sensitivity to the story and what we want to do with it and the eagerness of an actor to really get inside that storyline. And even more importantly the chemistry between whatever other key characters are important with that role…I’m telling you, [Guy Wilson’s] not only doing Chandler justice with what he created in this role, but he’s inside it. I’m telling you, you will love him.”
So, what do you think about Greg’s comments regarding Chandler’s exit on DAYS and the casting of Guy Wilson in the pivotal role of Will Horton? Let us know!
Lets just move on…PLEASE!!!
They should have cast Philip Seymour Hoffman as Will! Has anyone seen him play Truman Capote?? He plays gay AWESOME!
I think he’s a bit old to play Will.
I think most of this article is crap. Chandler, after all he has done and been to Days, said himself that he was unceremoniously let go without any farewell or even a fare they well. Damage control is a nice spin and I’m sure the new kid is awesome and I look forward to seeing him in the role. But Chandler was bitch slapped, on purpose, no matter how you wanna color it. That’s all.
“fair thee well”, not “fare they well”. My brain and my fingers got twisted up.
And evidently, still are. FARE THEE WELL.
Yes, you are quite correct, it’s just PR crap in plain English. It’s of no consequence to me if an actor has decided to “move on” and vacate an
interesting role – but this is just damage control nonsense.
Were you there?
Writers create characters – Actors play them. I seriously doubt CM was there in the writer’s room when it was decided Sami should get pregnant as a teenager and the father would be Lucas, but she would pass the kid off as Austin’s. He was most likely in diapers himself, so please he did not create the character Will. And he wasn’t the first actor to play Will and he won’t be the last. He did a great job bringing to life the vision of the writers who penned Will’s coming out story line and he had good chemistry with his fellow actor who played Sonny, but to say he created Will and imply Will is somehow the property of CM just because he played him, is a bit much in my opinion.
Very very true.
Sorry to lose Chandler but Days could have given more notice to him that he was being replaced early. It must have been horrible to be told after taping one day that it was his last day. Chandler certainly deserved better. Loved him as WIll. Always will!!!
Happens every single day to regular people out there in the real world. Thousands of “ordinary people” are told that “you’ve done a great job, we wish you well, company is having problems…blah blah blah…we have to let you go” etc.
Chandler had already given his notice, the producers just wanted to get more
mileage out of the character. Such is the way of the world – re-cast, move on.
Exactly. No reason for controversy.
I think it will be years before we will hear the truth because everyone knows it’s career suicide to talk badly, even if it’s the truth, about your former employer. I have no doubt if Chandler choose to return to acting he will be even more successful but my gut tells me his people have told him to keep quiet, about what really happened, for the sake of his potential too return to acting after college.
I sincerely hope that people will still NOT be going on about this in years to come.
This told us absolutely nothing about what was accurate or inaccurate. Sorry Greg Meng, but this falls short.
That is my reaction too. I thought that was a promising beginning–and then it went nowhere. Knowing that there were accuracies and inaccuracies doesn’t help if you don’t tell us which were which. I do get that there are probably aspects he can’t talk about, but the impression I’m left with is that he’s got something to hide and he knows it. If that’s the best he can do, maybe he should have just left it alone. I don’t think he helped his case very much; if anything, his dodging the questions just makes it look as though TPTB were in the wrong and know it.
Didn’t we have other cast members expressing that they could not believe how CM was treated? I suppose they, too, might not know the whole story–but you would expect that they would be close enough to the situation to have a good sense of what was really what.
That said, I hope viewers will give the new guy a chance. None of this is his fault.
I agree. Greg’s comments were so full of fluff and said absolutely nothing to clarify what was already out there.
When I read quotes like his, I have to wonder if there is something wrong with the person’s ability to put cohesive, thoughtful sentences together. Do they always talk in circles? And if so, how do they ever get anything accomplished?
Clearly, when someone talks likes they are avoiding the truth by talking all around the question; never directly answering it.
I don’t blame Chandler or Guy for this mess. I wish both of them well and wish Mr. Meng the ability to answer a question directly the next time he is asked.
i still don’t know what actually happened & probably never will – sorry greg meng but you totally tapped danced around the question.
on the other hand i truly hope the fans give guy wilson a chance to prove what he can do as actor and not start saying hateful things about him.
“…because you’ve created such an amazing character here and the storyline is so amazing and we’ve got major places to go with that and we can’t lose momentum.;”
it’s with adulation – a heavy heart – an uplift for – angels weep – a resounding YES – all systems go….
I have a voice…. THE LGBT has a voice. an equally stunning forum thru which my life… and yours… is flying
It’s just gotten some misinterpretation out there.”
for the love of (our) “Days of OUR Lives” – lets keep this train moving… the momentum forward… the heartfelt moments… and lives afloat… spread your wings both Chandlers’ and know we treasure, appreciate, love, and welcome both Men in their wake, path, and live well in your knowledge that nesting in a gay character is present.
I’m happy
I want 1500 milligrams of whatever you’re on.
i’m in cohoots… with: “Gramma Marlena” to look after our “wills”
I loved Chandler in the role; however, in the real world most people that threaten to quite their job publicly get fired. Period. Chandler is young, hot, and talented- and he learned a valuable life lesson while he still young enough not to repeat a similar mistake in the future. Next.
Exactly! Its like…..PEOPLE!! The dude already quit!!! Where is the juicy scandal here??????
There is no need for a scandal! Why would you want one?!
And Chandler ‘threatened’ to quit his job? Please!..
What is needed is the truth. From TPTB and their real reasons for firing Chandler.
I know that we didn’t get the truth about Chandler’s exit. Greg Meng didn’t just tap dance around the question, he avoided it all together. This article told us nothing. If you read between the lines, he was unceremoniously dumped. When you’ve made a character iconic and won awards for the role and they don’t even throw him a going away party, that means TPTB feel betrayed and fired him before he could quit.
He had already quit!!
Even though he quit, he wasn’t supposed to leave until much later. Also, if one is on a show that long and not to get a send off, just “There’s the door, see ya.” There’s more to the story.
I trust Greg, and I believe Guy Wilson is a good match for the job. With the clips I’ve seen, Will seems like he’s in more than capable hands.
Reporter really didn’t do his job on this one and shouldn’t have allowed Meng to get away with his spin. There were reports of Chandler in tears yet he indicates Massey was fine.
Day’s has had a tradition of giving a departing actor an on set cake on their last day. I don’t fault them for finding a recast and letting him out of his contract early but the way they dumped someone who brought them lots of publicity. He got two Emmys for them, something they rarely receive and the treatment he received was pretty shabby.
I am looking forward to Mr. Wilson’s portrayal of Will Horton.
The more he or others in days talk, the more I call them BS. Let CM move on stop talking about him, he sure isn’t .
Well, there was not any info about why Chandler was pushed out so fast after he gave his notice of leaving, but understandably in Greg ‘s position he focused on the positive and moving forward. I think there should be a soap opera about the behind the scenes of a soap opera. It would be more exciting than current soap operas. 🙂
I don’t understand how this new guy could possibly do a better job than Chandler Massey, who won an Emmy! I wonder what the REAL story is.
For a start of it wasn’t Meng or Corday that wanted a recast, it was Sony who demanded one for fear of losing advertisers as they realised how popular Will and Sonny were. Secondly ayes Chandler quit but he was initially going to work til the end of his contract at that time they hadn’t found a recast because they didn’t want one it was only when Sony intervened that they conveniently found Guy Wilson who by the way wasn’t someone unfamiliar to Dool as they stated. The whole thing stinks to high heaven but as ppl have said that’s just Hollywood. It’s just sad the way one of their most popular actors who brought them a much needed boost was treated so badly. Yes he may have been a recast but Chandler was the first Will to help create Wilson. So it will be a hard transition for some including me.
There’s one more thing it seems from reading various comments on several sites, that soap actors and fans are treated with such contempt and viewed as inferior in some way. In the UK soap actors are treated like royalty they have a hard job working 20hr days memorising pages and pages of script doing back to back episodes. Soaps have been around forever and have been the mainstay drama on tv. It’s unheard of to treat their actors the way they do in the US. I’m not trying to be controversial for want of a better word it’s just an observation.
You cut off the book promotion part…lol.the whole thing is a total PR written piece. Backlot should have charged Meng for the ad. And it’s also bullshit. If things went down the way Meng said so then Chandler would have been out there? It’s because he wants to work. Whether Guy Wison is good or not is irrelevant. No matter what something stinks.
I’m surprised that so many contributors here see hypocrisy as part of the recast, and insincerity on the part of DOOL producers. Chandler himself announced he wanted to leave the show to pursue college and whatever. Fine. So obviously DOOL had their work cut out for them finding a top-notch replacement. They found someone right away they feel will fill the bill, so they eagerly wanted to move forward with the replacement. It’s all business — not a slam to CM. Both sides get what they want. CM will always find work if and when he decides to return to acting. DOOL will continue on into its [49th?] year. It’s just business!
Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of Our Lives’ Favorites Making Returns: Alison Sweeney, Christie Clark, Chandler Massey and Bryan Dattilo
Great news for Days of Our Lives fans, now that Ryan Quan is co-head writer of the long-running soap opera. Coming in June of 2027 (since DAYS tapes ten or so months ahead), you can look forward to the returns of Alison Sweeney (Sami Brady), Christie Clark (Carrie Brady), Chandler Massey (Will Horton) and Bryan Dattilo (Lucas Horton).
The foursome is back on set and began last week to tape their upcoming story arc, according to TV Insider. As to what exactly is going on that brings sister Sami and Carrie’s history back up, as well as Will and Lucas’ is only being teased at this time, but suffice to say, it should be intriguing.
Alison Sweeney explained on being back on set, “It was a lot of dialogue and emotion, but with all the best actors to work opposite, we fell into it as if no time had passed. It was really wonderful.”
Photo: JPI
As to working with the longstanding rivalry of Sami and Carrie, Alison added on working with Clark, “So, it really does feel like we’re sisters. It’s so fun, and she’s such a good actor that she makes everything so natural that you can really disappear into those stories.”
JUST LIKE OLD TIMES
It also seems like the deep-history, which often had the sister fighting for the love of Austin Reed, but that might not figure into the equation this time, or will it?
Alison indicated what she thought of the scripts she was given. “I felt like when I read it, it was a page-turner. I was very excited. There’s a lot of history here, and a lot of things that haven’t been said. So, it’s really not like, ‘Oh, rehashing stuff.’ And now having played some of the scenes, I’m psyched.” Sweeney added, as for the men, working again with her on-screen son, Chandler Massey and Will’s on-screen father Bryan Dattilo, was also extra special.
The last time DAYS viewers saw Sami on the canvas was back in November of 2025, when she revealed she has gotten engaged to never-before-seen Dante Vitali. As for Clark, she last visited Salem for the episodes surrounding John Black’s memorial in June of 2025.
Chandler Massey’s Will Horton last made a visit to Salem in November of 2025 when he attended the gala for the Tom Horton Free Clinic as part of the soap opera’s 60th anniversary celebration. Bryan Dattilo was last seen in December of 2025. So, by the time we see all four again it will be close to two years since they were on new episodes of the series. Time to look forward to June of 2027.
So, excited by the news of Alison, Christie, Chandler and Lucas making a return to Days of Our Lives? What do you think the story will be involving, Sami, Carrie, Lucas and Will? Let us know via the comment section.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of Our Lives’ Alum Al Calderon Talks On His Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes as Javi Hernandez (Exclusive)
Last Tuesday, Al Calderon scored the first Emmy nomination of his career for his role as Javi Hernandez on Days of Our Lives.
Calderon name was announced as one of the performers competing for gold in the Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series category at the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards on October 30.
This week, Calderon chatted live on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel for a one-on-one conversation where he discussed: his nominated scenes and time on the Peacock streaming soap opera, his decision to leave DAYS, his role of Nico Silva on Brilliant Minds and its sad cancellation, plus his passing the torch of Javi to Jacob Martinez, who took over the role on-screen on the June 30, 2026 episode of Days of Our Lives.
Photo: JPI
JAVI REVEALS TO LEO THAT HE HAD A DAUGHTER WHO DIED
Al revealed the scenes that comprise his now Emmy-nominated reel have at its epicenter the heartbreaking moments from the September 12, 2025 episode. In it, Javi shares for the first time to Leo (Greg Rikaart) that he had a daughter named Solana, with a woman he was seeing named Sylvia. One fateful day, Sylvia left their child in a car when she went to work and the little girl died. Javi had blamed himself for not being the parent to take his daughter to school that day since he was hungover the night before, therefore it opened up the opportunity for something to happen to the his child, and it did.
The multi-talented actor/singer explained his reel: “It was the scene where he is talking about his daughter to Leo. I also included the scene where Javi goes to talk to Melinda (Tina Huang) and to see if it would be a viable option to adopt, because I wanted to introduce the subtlety and nuance of why Javi kind of has this whole connection to Tesoro, in a way.”
It is true that Al can bring the tears and make us cry right along with him during his run as Javi. To that, Calderon added, “I’ve read the comments that I’m a little bit of a crybaby, so I didn’t want the entire reel to be of me crying, but I wanted it to show a little bit of an emotional range of the restraint that Javi was feeling so I included that scene
In addition Calderon shared, “I also included a really beautiful scene with Cherie Jimenez (Gabi Hernandez, DAYS) where I’m looking at photos of Tesoro, and of course, Javi is crying. I just wanted to show the relationship between Javi and his family as well, and as I mentioned the reveal of the child that he lost.”
Photo: JPI
ALUMS AL CALDERON AND ALICE HALSEY REPRESENT DAYS OF OUR LIVES IN EMERGING TALENT CATEGORY
In a twist of fate, Calderon is also nominated in the Emerging Talent category with Alice Halsey who played Rachel Black. Halsey is currently starring in the reboot of Little House on the Prairie in the lead role of Laura Ingalls on Netflix.
As to his hope on Emmy night, Al expressed, “Of course, I want to win, but Alice Halsey is going to give me a run for the money. And if’s not me (who wins the award), it better be her!”
You can check out the full interview with Al below.
Now let us know, do you remember Al’s emotional scenes when he explained to Leo he had a daughter who died, which made it all the more heartbreaking to not end up with permanent custody of Tesoro? What do you think of Al’s chances to win the gold based on his Emmy scene selection? Do you miss him as Javi? Weigh-in via the comment section.
Days Of Our Lives
Emily O’Brien Talks On Her Y&R Past as Jana Hawkes and Working with Peter Porte on ‘Days of Our Lives’
On the latest edition of Soapy Hosted by Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart which dropped on Tuesday, July 21, Emily O’Brien is the featured guest. As soap fans know, Emily has worked with Rikaart both in her first soap role on The Young and the Restless as Jana Hawkes and now on Days of Our Lives in her current role of Gwen Rizczech.
While Emily continues on DAYS, she has very impressive list of credits in the other part of her career as a voice-over actress and one in motion-capture in some of the most popular video games in the world.
O’Brien was first seen on The Young and the Restless back in 2006. She recalled her landing the role which eventually paired her for her five year run with Greg Rikaart.
Photo: JPI
BEING CAST ON THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
“The role was just a few days and she wasn’t even supposed to be English,” Emily recalled. “The role was originally called Jade. Karen Rae, the casting director of The Young and the Restless at the time said to me “Oh, you’re from England. Try it with the dialect.” I put it on and she said, ‘I’m going to bring you back at like 3 for s callback.’ So then they changed the role to Jana and they said she’s going to be a Brit. I was only supposed to be on for like five episodes and it turned into 5 years.”
In explaining why she loved crazy Jana, Emily shared, “Jana was sort of like the misanthrope. She was just was the odd one out and I loved it. I felt so comfortable playing that because she was just eclectic and weird and she loved playing with Ouija boards and she rode a motorbike. There was just so much color to bring to her. It was just such a great match to play with Greg (Kevin), and Christian LeBlanc (Michael) and Tracey Bregman (Lauren).
Photo: JPI
GWEN, DIMITRI AND LEO ON DAYS OF OUR LIVES
On Days of Our Lives, the Leo, Gwen, Dimitri dynamic is quite unique and been through many schemes and entanglements. Often Emily finds herself in repartee with her ex-lover, Dimitri, who turned out to be gay and then had a thing for her bestie, Leo (Greg Rikaart)!
During the conversation, Greg and Emily sang, Peter Porte’s praised with O’Brien expressing, “Peter is just ready to play. He comes on set prepared. I’ve never seen him with his script. From blocking and rehearsals, he doesn’t have it. He’s prepared. He’s a physical actor and he always trying to come up with something. I think he let me slap him. He let me kiss him. He let me throw a cheeseburger in his lap. He’s ready for anything for anything.”
You can catch the full episode of ‘Soapy; featuring Emily O’Brien below where the actress also talks about replacing Jen Lilley as Theresa Donovan after being let go as Gwen; and being paired again with Greg Rikaart on the Peacock streaming soap opera this time as best friends and more.
So, were you a big Jana Hawkes and Kevin Fisher fan on Y&R? Did you like them as a couple? Do you like the dynamic between Emily and Peter Porte and Greg Rikaart on DAYS? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
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