Days of our lives Next Weeks Goings and Comings: Shocking Recast Revealed & 2 Massive Returns!
The latest casting shake-up and storyline twists on Days of Our Lives are setting the stage for one of the most explosive May sweeps in recent memory—and this time, the drama is hitting both on and off screen.
First, let’s talk about the major recast that fans have been waiting for. Al Calderon’s exit as Javi Hernandez left a noticeable gap in the Hernandez family dynamic, especially as his storyline intensified. Now, the show has officially brought in Jacob Martinez to take over the role, with his debut set to air this summer.
The transition is expected to follow classic soap tradition. Javi, currently at the center of a medical crisis after heroically helping save Johnny, is rumored to fall into a coma.
This allows for a seamless recast—when he wakes up, viewers will see a new face. It’s a familiar but effective storytelling device, and it ensures continuity while raising the emotional stakes, especially for Leo Stark, who is already spiraling over Javi’s condition.
But the casting news is only part of the story.
In a welcome return, Wally Kurth is back as Justin Kiriakis. His comeback couldn’t come at a more critical moment, particularly for his son, Alex Kiriakis. Alex has just learned he is the father of Joy’s baby and is throwing himself headfirst into fatherhood—perhaps too quickly.
Driven by his own abandonment issues, Alex is determined to do everything “right,” but in the process, he may be ignoring the emotional wreckage building around him. Joy has agreed to stay in Salem so they can co-parent, a decision that could quietly destroy Alex’s marriage to Stephanie Johnson.
Stephanie, already traumatized from past events, is barely holding it together. Watching her husband bond with another woman and child is pushing her toward a breaking point. With unresolved trauma, emotional isolation, and even dangerous decisions looming, she may soon become one of the most volatile figures in Salem.
Meanwhile, the darker storyline surrounding Sophia Choi continues to unfold. What appears to be a tragic suicide may actually be something far more sinister. Jada Hunter delivers devastating news to Amy Choi, who believes her daughter took her own life.
However, viewers know a much darker truth may be at play—one involving Kristen DiMera. While Amy mourns, Kristen may already be unraveling under the weight of guilt, haunted by what she has done.
Adding even more emotional complexity, Johnny DiMera will soon come face-to-face with Amy. This confrontation promises to be heartbreaking, as Johnny must navigate being both a victim of Sophia’s actions and a source of comfort for her grieving mother.
With recasts, returns, emotional breakdowns, and a murder cover-up brewing beneath the surface, Salem is heading into a storm where no one will emerge unchanged. And if these storylines collide the way they’re building toward, the fallout could reshape multiple families forever.
