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EXCLUSIVE: General Hospital’s Van Hansis Talks on the Casting of Adrian Anchondo as Marco and Hopes for a “Soap Opera Romance”

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: ABC

This week on General Hospital, the character of Marco (Adrian Anchondo) came to Port Charles after we first met him in Miami when Dr. Lucas Jones (Van Hansis) got drunk, kissed the guy and threw up all over him. Viewers learned in story that Marco is actually the son of Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota) and Natalia Rogers-Ramirez (Eva LaRue), and as previously has been teased, will be the new man in Lucas’ life as their romance will being to take flight.

Five time Daytime Emmy-nominee Van Hansis chatted live on The Michael Fairman Channel previewing what may go down once Lucas and Marco actually have a date, and the casting process that led actor Adrian Anchondo to land the contract role on the ABC daytime drama series playing opposite Hansis and much more.

As the backstory goes, Van and Adrian actually first met over 20 years ago when they were both appearing at the Williamstown Theater Festival and crossed paths a few times through the years. When recalling the screen-tests for the character back in January of this year, Van shared, “I will say that out of the guys who tested for Marco, I think about a half of them were gay and half were straight, and they were all great and they all did great stuff with the material. But, I think there’s an ease as a gay actor myself, working with another gay actor that I don’t have to feel like, ‘Oh, you’re kissing a guy, blah, blah, blah, blah.’

Photo: JPI

However, there is also the example of Jake Silbermann who played Noah on As the World Turns, (when Van played Luke Snyder), and he’s remained one of my closest friends. He has never had an issue with a kiss and we played boyfriends for years and years. There was never a moment of him being like, ‘Oh, this is tough. Oh, now I gotta kiss a guy,’ because you’re a professional actor.”

So did Van have a say in who actually got chosen as his new leading man? According to Hansis, sort of. “They asked me, but I don’t think they’re like being like, ‘What does Van want?’ I believe there were four guys who screen-tested for Marco. So, it was all the different Marcos testing and it was with me and Laura Wright (Carly),” recalled Van. “We just did the scene once with each of them. We’d have a rehearsal up in Frank Valentini’s (executive producer, GH) office and then come down to set, do the scene once, and that was that. All four of them did such a fantastic job. Frank did ask me, ‘Who did you respond to?’ Obviously, I said Adrian and not just because I knew him previously, but I do think that for what they were looking for, he is the best for the job.”

Courtesy/ABC

Speaking on how Lucas and Marco first met after Lucas’ fallout with his ex-husband Brad (Parry Shen) happened whlmedical convention in Miami, Hansis revealed, “I just loved the fact that when he meets Marco, the first thing he does is vomit all over him. That was really fun stuff to play because also it was a side of Lucas that we haven’t seen. Lucas seems to me to be this very kind of straight-laced, strong moral code, guy. So for him just to get wasted and sloppy, and kind of embarrassing was a cool flip side to play.”

 

Prior to Hansis portraying Lucas, the role was played on and off by Ryan Carnes. In this new incarnation of the character, viewers are seeing Lucas having some self-effacing humor and dialog. “I think it’s something that naturally I just kind of brought to it that they then (the writers) saw, and then started sort of building that for me,” shared Van. “I love that Lucas gets to have a sense of humor. I think that coming in and sort of making the character your own, I think that’s part of it. A lot of times, I’ll get scenes that are sort of recapping what’s going on. I think in order to keep spark in that, a lot of times humor can help, and then also the fact that these characters live in this insane world … the stuff that happens to these people is absolutely insane. In order to get through that, I think you got to have a sense of humor about things. I think that Lucas is very much in a place of sort of PTSD coming back to town after everything that happened with Brad and Wiley and all of that stuff. Part of his coping mechanism is to smile through it all.”

Lucas knows very little about Marco and we already know that Marco comes from some shady biological parents, especially his father. So what are Van’s hopes for the two moving forward? “I hope it will a soap opera romance. There has to be some positive good things, but you can’t keep that forever in daytime. So, there’s got to be be some stuff that comes up,” expressed Hansis.

Photo: ABC

Van concluded, “There’s got to be be some conflict in there. I haven’t played Lucas in any sort of romantic situation, really and Lucas is so guarded. There was so much history with the betrayal of Brad and lying about his child. That’s not something that you get over, plus realizing that your child actually died and you’ve been raising another child? That being said, I would like to see Lucas in a ‘romantic-ish’ situation.”

Check out our full video interview and livestream conversation with Van below.

Now, are you feeling the on-screen chemistry between Marco and Lucas thus far? Do you hope they have a messy soapy love story? Share your thoughts via the comment section.

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I’m completely underwhelmed by Marco. Brad might be devious but at least he’s FUN and puts a spark back into Lucas. So far Lucas and Marco are curing my insomnia.

I love Marco and Lucas.

Finally, some romance !! So sick of disgusting Drew and the WSB !!!!

It’s refreshing to have two out gay actors playing a potential couple. Van & Adrian have chemistry and I look forward to the slow burn (but hopefully not too slow) start of their relationship.

A couple I can fully invest in. Looking forward to their adventures.

I think Marco and Lucas are great together.Brad is a lying manipulator who thus far has never changed. He is bad for Lucas in every way.He claims he loves him then blackmails his boss Portia, who just tried to protect her daughter from Crazy.. yes crazy Heather Webber!Then sells that same info to his crazy Aunt the mob boss who gives it to creepy Drew Cain. So he can blackmail Portia! It’s sick.Marco is hot hope this romance moves quickly.

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GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Carly and Lulu Make Plans to Rescue Their Children; Anna Looks Determined to Secure Her Freedom

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This week on all-new episodes of General Hospital, the race is on! Can Lulu (Alexa Havins) and Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) get to Rocco (Finn Carr) and Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) in time to ensure their safety from Cullum (Andrew Hawkes)? Can Carly (Laura Wright) with the help of her brother, Lucas (Van Hansis) rescue Josslyn (Eden McCoy) from captivity at Wyndemere? These questions may be answered, plus the return of the one and only Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) are on tap!

In the just released General Hospital spoilers video for the week of June 22-26, Lulu tells her mother, Laura (Genie Francis), “Dante and I have to get to Rocco before Cullum!” Meanwhile, Rocco (Finn Carr) looks angered and emotional as Britt walks through their cabin hideout. Does Rocco know his parents are on the way to find them, or has Cullum already tracked them down to the British Virgin Islands?

Back in Port Charles, Carly is informing Lucas that his niece, “is a WSB agent.” She knows Josslyn (Eden McCoy) is being held against her will at Wyndemere, and she has to find a way to get her out. Lucas agrees with Carly’s plan of, “We go in and we don’t leave without Josslyn!” Elsewhere, Josslyn is looking worried for her future as she is stuck in captivity thanks to Cassius, Cullum and Sidwell!

Courtesy/ABC

FINOLA HUGHES RETURNS

The final moments of the teaser promo reveal Anna in a psychiatric clinic in France. We have not seen her for months after Cullum, Sidwell and Pascal fed her hallucinogenics to make her believe her arch nemesis, Cesar Faison was alive!

Now, the doctors walk towards her hospital bed, where we see the super spy calmly knitting. Is Anna back to normal and playing everyone to get out of her predicament, or does she still remain deeply traumatized … or both?

Take a look at the rest of the official GH spoilers for the week below.

MONDAY, JUNE 22
Willow gets an unwelcome surprise. Trina sticks to her guns. “Nathan” wants reassurance. Ethan advises Ava. Brook Lynn receives an update.

TUESDAY, JUNE 23
Dante cautions Liz. Laura learns a secret. Brook Lynn confides in Michael. Sonny challenges Ava. Chase makes a decision.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24
Anna meets with her doctor. Carly makes a stunning confession. Britt extracts a promise. Cullum pulls a fast one. Gio and Emma hit the pool.

THURSDAY, JUNE 25
Josslyn clashes with Cassius. Lulu and Dante make a discovery. Chase receives a warning. Jordan seeks help. Alexis is summoned to the PCPD.

FRIDAY, JUNE 26
Anna takes a huge risk. Britt is in grave danger. Willow is in disbelief. Danny must act fast. Curtis jumps to the wrong conclusion.

Check out the latest General Hospital promo entitled, “Rescue Mission” below.

Now weigh-in: Do you think Anna is still mentally off-balance, or OK, and just pretending to be troubled to get out of France and get back to Port Charles? Will Josslyn finally be rescued, or will Carly and Lucas find themselves locked up with her? And, who will get to Britt and Rocco first? Cullum, or Dante and Lulu? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

Maurice Benard Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’ Writers; Teases Upcoming Sonny Scenes with Anna, Jason, Justine and Ric

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With the highly-anticipated returns of Finola Hughes (Anna Devane) on this week’s June 24 episode of General Hospital, Steve Burton’s (Jason Morgan) upcoming return on July 13, which also serves as the ABC daytime drama’s 16,000 episode, things are about to fire on all cylinders in the story, as noted today by series star, Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos).

On Father’s Day, the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning actor and mental health activist took to his Instagram and expressed in a video that he has some unbelievable upcoming senes with the aforementioned Burton and Hughes. Add to that Nazneen Contractor (Justine Turner) and Rick Hearst (Ric Lansing), where Benard gave credit where credit is due to the GH writing team, which is led by co-head writers, Elizabeth Korte and Chris Van Etten..

In this video, Benard said, “I just want to get on here and say that I did some work with Steve Burton, Finola Hughes, Rick Hearst, Nazneen Contractor, and they’re all just fantastic. Truly fantastic. But, I want to say the writing was just exceptional. It truly was. It was exceptional. So, thankful for that kind of writing. I know writers don’t get the credit a lot, but I just want to say to the General Hospital writing team, keep rolling!”

GENERAL HOSPITAL PREVIEW

So now the question becomes, with a major tease like that, what is about to go down between Sonny, Anna, Jason, Justine and Ric? Will we finally get to the end of the line for Sidwell (Carlo Rota), as previously teased by the GH co-head writers? Will we learn what happened to Jason and Anna, fully? Will Justine and Sonny becomes closer or stop their liaisons? And what of Ric? Will he be true blue to his brother or double-cross him? There is a lot at stake as we move further into the summer and one that looks like it could be one of the more exciting ones in years!

FINOLA HUGHES CONFIRMED AMAZING SCENES WITH MAURICE BENARD

As a punctuation point to his video, Benard also shared this written message in the post: “I just did some wonderful scenes with Steve Burton, Rick Hearst, Finola Hughes and Nazneen Contractor and  and unbelievable writing, freaking amazing scenes that you will see in the near future on General Hospital.” In fact, Finola Hughes jumped in the post comment thread and responded, “I loved our scenes so much xxx”

Fans will most likely see all the scenes Benard referred to later in July, since GH tapes approximately six weeks ahead of air.

So, are you excited to see what Maurice is talking about? Are you hyped for what’s to come on GH? Any clue on what you think will go down between the main characters on the soap with the returns of Anna Devane and Jason Morgan to the mix? Weigh-in via the comment section below.

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A post shared by Maurice Benard (@mauricebenard)

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‘General Hospital’ Alum Chad Duell Announces Upcoming Release of His First Single, ‘If You Need Me’

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In a surprise move, Daytime Emmy winner, Chad Duell (ex-Michael Corinthos, GH) is getting ready to unveil a new chapter of his career in music.

The former GH star, where he played the son of Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and Carly Spencer (Laura Wright) for 15 years, has announced his new single, “If You Need Me” will drop on Friday, June 26. The single is now available for pre-order on Spotify and major music streaming platforms and is distributed by DistroKid.

Taking to his Instagram story over the weekend, to announce the pre-save of his new single, Chad expressed, “I’ll make a full post about what I’ve been up to and my music once it goes live next week, but you can pre-save my first single so it goes straight to your Spotify once it drops next week.”

Photo: CDuellIG

SINCE LEAVING GENERAL HOSPITAL

Previously, since his departure from the ABC soap opera. Chad starred alongside Zach Mendez in the world premiere of of Yum Yum at Annapolis, a new play written by Bruce Reisman. Duell last appeared on General Hospital on the January 21, 2025 episode.

The part was recast with Rory Gibson who debuted as the new Michael in May of 2025 during the Nurses’ Ball episodes and who has remained in the role since that time.

In an interview earlier this year on The Able Show, Duell said on his decision to exit the soap opera, “I was blessed to be part of that (show) for as long as I have, but what happens sometimes is if you’re doing the same thing, especially in a creative field for such a long time, you can get a little burnt out in a way. It can make you a little depressed, so that’s kind of what happened. On top of that, I had other things going on in my life at the time. My father passed away recently and I just needed a reset. So, I stepped away. A lot of times you have to go through some stuff to really step into that next level. I needed to kind of feel uncomfortable.”

So, what type of musical genre will Chad’s new song be? Country? Pop? Rock? Dance/Club? Something else? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below, and if you are eager to hear the new single next week via the comment section below.

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Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

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Finn Carr & Dominic Zamprogna as Rocco & Dante

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