Now that the word is out that Days of our Lives star, Emily O’Brien, will be taking over the role of Theresa Donovan from Jen Lilley, fans of the Peacock streaming soap opera are wondering just how the show plans to unveil O’Brien as the recast Theresa, and how she will exit her current role as Gwen.

Meanwhile, Jen Lilley, who had appeared on DAYS as Theresa on and off since 2013, has been speaking to media outlets about what went down behind the scenes in the turn of events that led her part to be recast midstream of her most recent story arc.

Speaking with PEOPLE, Lilley shared that she was under the impression that DAYS was going to fit 12 weeks of episodes into the 4 weeks she gave the show for her availability to be back at the soap opera.  Jen wanted to return to film scenes relating to the memorial service of Victor Kiriakis, because of her close bond with the late, John Aniston.

Photo: JPI

Jen noted that she went to then co-executive producer, Albert Alarr, and asked why she received less scripts than expected. That is when she learned someone else was going to be taking over the role. She asked, “You told me Theresa’s going to do X, Y, and Z, but I just got the schedule for Monday, and it’s only this one script. Is Theresa still going to do that?”

Lilley says that Alarr responded with, “Theresa’s still going to do all of that. It’s just we’re going to go ahead and do it with another actress.’ That’s how I found out.”

It was at that time, according to Lilley, she asked who would be replacing her and learned it was DAYS cast member, Emily O’Brien. Alarr informed her it would be Emily moving over from her role as Gwen Rizczech. Jen shared she was further confused because they wanted Theresa to be blonde and Emily is a brunette. That was addressed, when she learned O’Brien would be donning a blonde wig for the part.

Photo: JPI

In wrapping up her time on DAYS, Jen said, “I think Emily drew the shortest straw, honestly. I was like, ‘That is the worst thing you could possibly do to a recast is be like, we’re going to wig you and make you just walk through fire for eight weeks.’ I don’t know whether it was a budgetary thing or a scheduling thing where they just couldn’t work the schedule out so everybody could do it. I don’t know their reasoning. It’s a little befuddling, but I still am really grateful that I got to go back.”

Now it remains to be seen, just how long O’Brien will play Gwen. Is it for the short planned arc of Theresa? Will it be longer? Will Lilley be back? All we can say is, play close attention to the Friday, October 6th and Monday, October 9th episodes of Days of our Lives.

What do you think about the sentiments shared by Lilley on recasting Theresa with Emily O’Brien? Comment below.

Wowza! Now here’s a line-up of soap opera and primetime favorites all in one movie! Coming up for the holidays, Lifetime has revealed they have an 80s and soap-themed film starring: Donna Mills (ex-Knots Landing, General Hospital), Linda Gray (ex-Dallas), Nicollette Sheridan (ex-Knots Landing and Dynasty), Morgan Fairchild (ex-Falcon Crest, SFT, DAYS et al) and Loni Anderson (ex-WKRP in Cincinnati).

Filmed earlier in 2023, Ladies of the 80’s is said to follow five soap opera divas (how fun and perfect!), as they reunite to shoot the final Christmas episode of their long-running soap opera!

In story, the producer, Alex (Travis Burns) and director Nell (Taylor Ann Thompson), who happen to be old college friends, do their best to keep things on the rails but as the ladies come together, old rivalries resurface that threaten to tear the production apart. With the show nearly canceled before it even begins due to the ladies’ famous diva behavior, they reluctantly agree to set aside their differences and past secrets to “act” as if they all still love each other.  When old sparks reignite between Alex and Nell, the ladies become eager to play cupid and conspire to bring the couple together.  

But wait, there’s more! In addition to the five leading ladies, the cast also includes: Days of our Lives favorite Patrika Darbo (ex-Nancy), Alec Mapa, and Donna Mills’ real-life daughter, Chloe Mills, plus 80s heartthrob, Christopher Atkins.

Photo: TiffanyX

There is even a Ladies of the 80’s theme song, performed by none other than 80’s pop star, Tiffany!

In a statement on the project, the movie’s EP Larry A. Thompson shared: “The opportunity to bring together Donna, Morgan, Loni, Linda and Nicollette, five powerhouse women into one holiday movie, has been like finding the perfect gift under the Christmas tree.”

The official airdate of the holiday movie will be revealed shortly in the networks’s A Wonderful Lifetime Holiday movie schedule. Deadline first shared the news.

What do you think of this upcoming soap opera-themed movie featuring Donna, Linda, Nicollette, Morgan and Loni? Comment below.

Zach Tinker, who soap fans love as Sonny Kiriakis on Days of our Lives and Fen Baldwin on The Young and the Restless, is currently in production on his latest film role.

In the horror flick, Beneath The Light, which is currently shooting in Lorain, Ohio, stars Zach as a troubled young man who takes a job at an abandoned lighthouse hoping to reconnect with an old friend – daughter of the lighthouse’s current owner (John Pyper Ferguson).

Isolated, with no way to return to shore, he falls headlong into a series of mysterious and frightening experiences that make him question his sense of reality and confront his long-standing anxiety and memory gaps. A budding romance provides comfort, but the key to his redemption lies with the lighthouse owner and the unexpected bond they share.

The film is being shot under a SAG-Interim agreement during the actors strike and recently locked in Tinker, Ferguson and Anna Nicole Chavez as its leads.

Photo: JPI

The indie feature film project includes a novelization and online mystery game tie-in at BeneathTheLight.net.

The creatives behind the camera include: Los Angeles-based producer/director John Baumgartner who hails from Lorain, and his producer/co-writer, Cindy Seng, from neighboring Amherst, Ohio.

So, looking forward to seeing the ever-popular Tinker in ‘Beneath The Light’ when it drops? Miss him as Days Sonny or Y&R’s Fen? Comment below.