Days Of Our Lives
DAYS Freddie Smith Shares Sentiments On Departure Of Chandler Massey: "It Was An Incredible Time"
Courtesy/NBC
The other half of DAYS super couple WilSon, Freddie Smith (Sonny) shared his thoughts over the weekend via Twitter on the departure of his long-time scene partner, Chandler Massey (Will) who finished his last tape day on Friday.
Freddie related to his fans and followers: “I feel so lucky I got to work with @ChandlerMassey these past two years. It was an incredible time. I wish you all the best. You deserve it!”
The duo made WilSon hugely popular for being the NBC soaps first same-sex couple, and now the question remains, who will be the actor to fill Chandler’s big shoes, and how soon will DAYS release the casting info?
Whatever the case, many fans are heartbroken that Smith and Massey will no longer be together on-screen! So, how do you feel about Freddie’s tweet? Will you give the new Will a chance and see how their on-screen chemistry is with Sonny? Or, are you giving up on the couple and the story, if Chandler is not playing Will? Comment below!
So sad to see Chandler leave, and such a sweet tweet by Freddie. Will miss the “original” WilSon so very much. Definitely going to give the new guy a chance, he might be great, but if I just can’t adjust then I’ll have to stop watching. Hoping for the best.
I’m heartbroken that Chandler is leaving, but I support him 100%! To me FS deserves our support and CM has asked us to support WilSon! He was pushing for a recast. I will do my best to support and watch Sonny love another Will. I’m not sure I could have ever watched Sonny fall in love with someone other than Will…I think that would hurt my heart more then it aches today!
I feel the same way. I loved Chandler and will miss him. I wish him success and love for the future and hope to see him in other projects. I support Freddie Smith and love him as well. I support the WilSon love story and will continue to watch Days. I hope whoever takes over the role of Will is a good match for Freddie’s Sonny and the fans will accept the change.
Chandler Massey is leaving “big shoes to fill” vacating his role as Will. He is a superb actor in his scenes with Freddie. As much as I didn’t want Chandler to leave, I suppose I will give the new Will a chance although it will be hard not to constantly compare the two actors. Maybe Freddie will blend well with the new actor making it more acceptable to the viewers. As they say, time will tell.
I think Drew Garret(name right?) would fit the part perfectly because of his uncanny resembalance to CM, if available. However, who plays the part…ill wait and see how it goes first before i make a decision if ill give up on it or not…soaps are like long running plays where actors gets replaced and no one stops going to those plays when different actors take over..ok soaps are different with changing stories and running 5 days a week but as long as stories hold my interest i dont give up that easily unless they bore me…so ill wait and c what happens when the new actor takes over.
I will give the new Will a chance. I didn’t like Chandler so much at first. I think it was more the shock of, who is this person? Good luck to Chandler!
I love so much Chandler & Freddie together on-screen! They look so ridiculous adorable together. I want to support Freddie/Sonny… I love him and I love Chandler.
Definitely will get the new actor a chance. Will is a character- the character has not left, merely the actor playing him. I said it before I will say it again, on soaps the story is the star, and if the story requires a certain character to be on canvas then I rather lose the actor than the character. In this case Will is too important to the story in so many ways, I am just glad they didn’t get rid of the character. I know on daytime we viewers tend to blur the actors with the characters especially when they played the role a very long time– but in the end the character for me will always be more important than any one actor. I seen recasts work before and I have faith that Days would not have let CM out of his contract early unless they found who they believe is a talented actor who can take on this role. If they let the character go, then Sonny would have to start over with someone new–someone who is not tied to the core families and stories and I don’t think fans would like that either– so as good as CM was– I rather lose him than Will.
i shall support the new actor wilson story is the important issue
These two young actors — and their compelling well-told stories — are a major reason why DAYS became my new soap home following the cancellations of those serials I loved for years. Actors cannot be expected to stay in their roles forever and the award-winning Mr. Massey should be wished the very best as he explores new opportunities in his career. A new actor surely has been carefully auditioned and tested to step into the Will Horton role. I pray the writers do not minimize the storylines for this couple with the cast change. As much as ATWT and OLTL pushed their pioneering same-sex couple plots, Will and Sonny seem even stronger. Mr. Smith is a class act for this public show of support for his friend and colleague. Best wishes to them both! And to DAYS!
the reason I think this couple is so strong is because Days isn’t making their sexuality the storyline. They are merely characters in a story that happened to be gay–just like all the straight characters– this is a huge step forward in integrating this segment of the population into mainstream media– it doesn’t cover up their sexuality, but it isn’t the only thing about them– which makes them real and a couple that both gay and straight viewers can relate to as people— I hope that isn’t lost in the recast, but like you I am sure Days would not have release CM earlier unless they had someone very talented to take over the role.
But unlike the straight couples, Will and Sonny have no love (sex) life. Every other straight couple can go at it like rabbits but Wilson cannot. Days has taken their relationship further than any other U.S. daytime soap, but let’s be realistic…Will and Sonny are still NOT treated like every other couple. They’ve only had one love scene, which was last year! And they have not been anywhere near a bed together in months.
devastating that all the hard work both put into the creation of WILSON could be down the tube now…and Freddie has to carry an awful burden with a new “person” in Will’s slot…doesn’t make any sense…this event may prove to be a serious negative with fan base and ultimately viewership…seems to me powers should’ve use more common sense and kept the BRAND WILSON alive in a better way. Bottom line is under siege.
Agreed! The tv people handled this very badly! We know that Chandler wanted to leave and even earlier than his contract stipulated. But letting him know on Friday that that was his last day, no prior notice! That’s just mean!
I feel so bad for Freddie too! He knew Chandler was going to leave, but not like that! From one hour to the next, puff there you go, here is your new on-screen boyfriend! Now you better create the same mesmerizing chemistry you had with Chandler, with the new dude!… Nice! Really nice NBC!.. No wonder so many of the young folk on DAYS leave!..
The more details that come out about how Chandler was handled in past days, the complete lack of respect for him and how lousy they treated him, even now dropping him from the show events he had planned, the more angry I become. Freddie, I hope, will take this to heart and as a great actor will do what he asked to do. He’s been the ROCK of WILSON but these so-called bosses are basically without soul and quick to cut you off at the knees if you don’t produce. Freddie has my support but I can’t say that I want to watch the newer stuff, when it arrives, with any great enthusiasm. I HURT FOR BOTH GUYS.
Wish him well !, However, won’t miss that weird grin/smile from every scene !
I’m heartbroken!
I will continue watching DAYS for Freddie! Can’t abandon him.
I will follow Chandler and his acting career.
But WilSon without Chandler is not WilSon. His departure was too sudden and too early! They could have given Chandler a little time to let the news sink in and maybe give him a last scene with Freddie, instead of telling him on his last day that it’s his last day! Cruel! Can’t imagine how the two actors must feel right now..
It has been known that some actors are told by their agents they are no longer needed at their job. At least Chandler had a face to face meeting. It’s a business.
I believe that Chandler checked out of his role for awhile now. I could feel his boredom and because of that, Wilson chemistry suffered. He also always seemed a bit uncomfortable in intimate scenes with Freddie. Is because of Freddie that I still believe in Wilson. I hope the new Will has good sexual chemistry with Sonny and hopefully brings new energy to the role. I wish Chandler good luck to his future. Maybe the show should have future storylines focused on Sonny so that the new Will gets time to learn and not worry about getting too much script to learn. We need to find out more about Sonny anyways and you can’t have every problem come from Will. That gets old. Can’t wait to find out who the new Will is.
I hope they get a great recast, because Will is so important to the show and Sonny and Will are such a great couple!
I will miss Chandler terribly he was just incredible from the get-go but I love Freddie more and more and will support a recast. I hope it is someone good and intense like Chandler was.
I do not plan on watching anymore. I think Chandler is a great actor and made his character, along with Freddie, the best part of the show. Good luck Chandler.
I’m inclined to agree with you C.J. I guess we’ll have to take a “wait and see” approach as we have no other choice short of stop viewing altogether. For my part, I shall deeply miss Chandler and wish him the very best! And who knows, perhaps Chandler may return someday to DOOL. It has happened before. I also have full confidence in Freddie and trust he’ll make it work with the new Will. WILSON Forever!!! 🙂
MY WIFE IS REALLY HEART BROKEN ABOUT CHANDLER LEAVING BUT SHE WISHES HIM AND FREDDIE THE BEST SHE WILL NEVER FORGET HIM
i still wish that cm didn’t have to leave. we surely would him being with freddie on screen. great chemistry.. good luck cm we love you and fs…
I dont think it will be the same with out Chandler massey but im looking forward to seeing how will be playing will but it wont be the same.
Oh my gosh, I swear I cant believe that, I can freddie with someone else.
earlier, I was so so happy and excited by watching Will & Sonny (Chandler and Freddie together) but now I dont have any feeling and motivation to watch them, I just hope Chandler comes back one day, I really miss him very much.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Heated Rivalry’ Star Franco LoPresti Opens Up About ‘Days of our Lives’ Debut as Dante Vitali
Next week on Monday, September 14 will mark the first appearance in Salem of Franco LoPresti in his new Days of our Lives role of Dante Vitali.
Heated Rivalry fans now LoPresti very well from his part as hockey player Cliff Marleau in the series first season. (No word yet if Cliff appears in season 2).
Now in a conversation with TV Insider, DAYS fans will learn that LoPresti is on the soap for a limited run. No timetable was given.
Photo: Corday Productions, Inc
When LoPresti does burst onto the scene come Monday, Dante makes quite the impact as Franco LoPresti explains. It seems that viewers will first see him in scenes in Monte Carlo at a poker table with none other than Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez) and Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier). However, Dante will come to Salem to talk to the Brady family about his supposed fiancée Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney).
Franco shared, “Dante was born and grew up in Italy and educated at this pretty top-tier English boarding school. He then went on to build his own dynasty in finance, all the while trying to distance himself from the Vitali name (as viewers know Tamara Braun played his cousin Ava Vitali).”
“But at the core of Dante, there’s definitely an old-school quality to him”, continued LoPresti. “He’s super passionate, he’s sincere and incredibly generous, but he’s also someone that you probably shouldn’t underestimate. Loyalty is something that means a lot to him. As Dante enters Salem, I think the audience will get to slowly peel back those layers and discover what’s really driving him. So, I’m excited for Days fans to go on that ride with Dante.”
Photo: Almay
As it turns out, LoPresti taped his episodes of DAYS starting back in November 2025 which happened to be weeks before Heated Rivalry became a smash hit.
Franco recalled, “It’s so funny because I thought my episodes would air in a month (on Days of our Lives). But I found out it was nine to 10 months and I was like, ‘I gotta wait that long?!’ So, I’ve been biting my nails, trying not to think about it, and I think it’s actually kind of helped because now it’s here and it’s all coming at me from all different angles. I’m nervous. I’m excited, and I just can’t wait to see it all come together. It’s one of the best jobs I’ve ever had for sure.”
In his personal life, Franco just had his first child with wife, actress Emily Alatalo, just a weeks ago on August 23rd when they welcomed their daughter, Stella into the world.
So, looking forward to seeing Franco LoPresti’s debut come Monday? What do you think about the fact that it’s being reported as a limited run? Do you think Dante and Sami have a chance on-screen or off-screen to be a happy couple? What do you really think brings Dante to Salem sans Sami? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below.
In a metaphor for the start of the school year and their upcoming anniversary in November, Days of our Lives revealed its “Class of Season 62,” with a very clever yearbook montage on their social media handles, welcoming new cast members, while paying respect to the veterans and “class”-iying the other characters in Salem.
The official Days of our Lives Instagram account shared on the posting, “The Class of Salem Season 62 has arrived. Familiar faces, new names and plenty of personality. Flip through our yearbook for a peek at this year’s class.”
Let’s take a look at how they broke it all down: The Salem Yearbook starts with saying “another unforgettable season,” with some group pics, and then we dovetail into Salem’s new class which features: Sydney Malakeh (Sydney DiMera), Brandon Butler (Mason Whitfield), Angelica Nero (Victoria Kiriakis), Cole Gersmeyer (Thomas DiMera) and Lorelei Olivia Mote (Rachel Black).
Photo: Days of our Lives
Next up, are the likes of: Cherie Jimenez (Gabi Hernandez), John-Paul Lavoisier (Philip Kiriakis), Tyler Joseph Andrews (Theo Carver) and LeeAnn Hopkins (Joy Wesley). Then, in the “Drama Club” section are: Dan Feuerriegel (EJ DiMera) and AnnaLynne Cipriani (Cat Greene).
Following the ‘Recess” section with some group snaps, comes “Homeroom Highlights” with: Abigail Klein (Stephanie Johnson), Eric Martsolf (Brady Black), Rob Scott Wilson (Alex Kiriakis), Lamon Archey (Eli Grant) and Sal Stowers (Lani Price Grant).
The “Salem Spectator” section features: Conner Floyd (Chad DiMera), Greg Rikaart (Leo Stark), Stowers again, and Ashely Puzemis (Holly Jonas). In the “Afternoon Sweets” section look for: Paul Telfer (Xander Kiriakis) and Linsey Godfey (Sarah Horton), Emily O’ Brien (Gwen Rizchech), Stacy Haiduk (Kristen DiMera/Susan Banks), Brandon Beemer (Shawn Brady), plus Jackée Harry (Paulina Price).
Towards the end of the yearbook, veteran performers such as: Mary Beth Evans (Kayla Johnson), Stephen Nichols (Steve Johnson), Lauren Koslow (Kate Roberts) and Josh Taylor (Roman Brady) are featured, plus Deidre Hall (Marlena Evans), James Reynolds (Abe Carver) and Matthew Ashford (Jack Deveraux), Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie Williams) and Suzanne Rogers (Maggie Kiraikis) with her on-screen daughter, Linsey Godfrey.
The Salem Yearbook comes to a conclusion noting “Big things happening in Salem” and to tune-in on Peacock, where we also find Jacob Martinez (Javi Hernandez), Maggie Carney (Rita Lesley), and a host of other favorites previewing what’s to come this fall.
So, what do you think of the Days of our Lives Class of Season 62? Looking forward to seeing what happens in Salem? Did you like the yearbook concept for promotional tune-in? Let us know via the comment section below.
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Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of our Lives’ Head Writers Give Fall 2026 Preview: Marlena and Stefano’s Chess Mystery, The Arrivals of Dante and Sydney, Romance Drama for Sarah and Others
As summer comes to a close with Labor Day weekend, the former Days of our Lives co-head writing duo of Paula Cwikly and Jeanne Marie Ford have given their annual fall season preview in episodes taped some 10-11 months ago.
As previously reported this past July, Ryan Quan returned to Days of our Lives and is now co-head writing the show with Ford, while Cwikly is now a consultant. The new co-head writing teams stories will not be seen till late spring/early summer 2027.
So for now, the stories pick up from where we left off with Cwikly and Ford promising via TV Insider, “Fall in Salem is full of twists and turns and secrets and surprises. Dots connect in unexpected ways as seemingly unrelated threads converge.”
Photo: JPI
CHECKMATE?
In one of the top mystery’s, Marlena is still having troubling memories and she will have another one on the Monday, September 7 episode. Meanwhile, her daughter Belle (Martha Madison) has gotten very close to Chad DiMera (Conner Floyd) and as pictured here, the two smooch while in Italy searching for answers to the chess set that Stefano DiMera gifted th the late John Black and Marlena (Deidre Hall) that has some significance.
The head scribes share, “The (chess board) mystery and its fallout are central to the fall stories. Chad and Belle follow the clues to a discovery that changes both of their families, and Salem, forever. Marlena worries that their investigation/the chess set may be a Pandora’s box that has been opened. And she is right…”
Newcomers are also the order of the day for Cwikly and Ford, this fall. We have already seen the debut as Brandon Butler as Mason Whitfield, and next week you can add as previously reported Sydney Malakeh on the Thursday September 1o episode as Sydney DiMera, followed by the the Monday, September 14 arrival of Franco LoPresti as Dante Vitali.
Photo: Corday Productions
Paula and Jeanne Marie expressed on the incoming Dante, “The arrival of a stranger who will set the whole town on its ear. The character has several strong ties to the current canvas and impacts many storylines.” What will Dante be up to? We know Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney) had mentioned in 2025 she got engaged to the man, but that was off-screen.
LOVE THE ONE YOU’RE WITH OR THE ONE YOU WANT?
In the romance department, the triangle between Brady/Sarah/Xander heats up with a very conflicted Sarah (Linsey Godfrey). The head writers reveal, “When Sarah faces attacks personally and professionally, Xander (Paul Telfer) and Brady (Eric Martsolf) work together to help and protect her. Sarah’s new love for Brady is challenged by her lingering love for Xander. Xander risks everything for Sarah.”
In addition look for, “Gabi (Cherie Jimenez) and Philip (John-Paul Lavoiser) to draw closer as he tries to save the family company and home.”
Kristen (Stacy Haiduk) will also be returning at some point this fall and she won’t be alone. Who might she bring with her? And from the looks of the Peacock promo for next week’s DAYS, someone is wearing Stefano’s ring around their finger, but who … and how does it all tie in this fall?
So, what do you think about some of the highlights coming up this fall on Days of our Lives per the series head writers? Does anything float your boat or pique your interest? If so, what? Let us know via the comment section. But first, check out the action next week on DAYS in the promo entitled “Bag of Tricks” below.
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