“Days of Our Lives” fans are used to seeing recasts in Salem. It’s all part of the soap opera experience. However, the Peacock series is forcing viewers into one of the wildest recasts of all time, and many aren’t happy, including the cast member who was replaced.
Days of Our Lives fans are furious about Theresa Donovan’s recast
According to Decider, Jen Lilley, who has played Theresa Donovan on and off for several years is being recast. This isn’t shocking news to many fans, as the actress made the announcement about her recast weeks ago. However, what is shocking is who is replacing her. “Days of Our Lives” has opted to write off the character of Gwen, played by Emily O’Brien. Instead, O’Brien will now move over into the role of Theresa. Meanwhile, the recast is one of the most shocking in “DOOL” history, and many fans aren’t happy about it. It looks like “DOOL” really is cleaning house with it’s characters.
Yes, viewers love Emily O’Brien, and aren’t blaming her for doing what the show asked. However, it seems wild to many fans that the soap opera could swap out Theresa for Gwen without a thought. Jen Lilley is a beloved cast member, and fans have grown to really root for Gwen. If a recast was necessary, why not find a new actress to play Theresa and allow O’Brien to continue to portray Gwen, the role she originated?
Jen Lilley speaks out about shocking DOOL recast
After it was confirmed that Jen Lilley’s character Theresa Donovan was being recast with her co-star Emily O’Brien, the actress spoke out publicly. Of course, she wasn’t happy with the way that “Days of Our Lives” handled the situation. “Top to bottom, it was just not handled the right way,” she said, per Deadline. “Everybody was mad, because everybody was kind of lied to.”
However, Lilley has made it clear that she holds no ill feelings towards O’Brien. “That poor girl has had to have conversations with me. How horrible she must have felt!” Lilley stated (via Soaps). “You could not do something more unkind to a recast,” she added.
In the past, “Days of Our Lives” has used former actors in recasts. Josh Taylor took over the role of Roman Brady after originally playing the role of Chris Kositchek. More recently, Robert Scott Wilson went from playing the beloved Ben Weston and slid right into the role of Alex Kiriakis. However, this recast feels different for some reason. It will likely take fans quite some time to get used to seeing O’Brien as Theresa Donovan. Sadly, that is the soap opera world we’re now living in.
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Kendra Quinn