Days: Rumor of yet another character switcheroo for existing actor...

[Liberty City]

She's gone on record, multiple times, stating she doesn't want a full-time gig at Days of Our Lives and is happier doing her then Hallmark, now GAC films.

[j swift]

I don't know what caused the re-cast, I suspect it is a mix of availability and current contractual obligations.  But, the latest that I read is that it happens on a plane.  Jen gets on the plane, and when it lands, Emily gets off (which I'll admit is an amusing idea).

[John]

Has Emily wrapped on screen as Gwen yet?

Do we know how long Jen plays Teresa before Emily takes over?

Any apperances by jack & Jennifer anytime soon with Gwen leaving?

[Errol]

Whelp...Jen Lilley IS back.

[Michael]

Yeah, JL filmed some kind of short stint, and the recast happens when that concludes. It's interesting they got JL at all if this was the plan, honestly. This show is... something else.

[John]

When is Jen Lilley first airdate back?

[Liberty City]

Exclusive: Jen Lilley’s Return to Days of Our Lives as Theresa Takes a Jaw-Dropping Twist

Essentially:

• Jen Lilley contacted Days of Our Lives in March about returning; they wanted twelve weeks and she only could guarantee three-to-four weeks of shooting, due to her other contractual deals and family life.
• Wrote an email to Marnie Saitta (via her reps) explaining she wanted to do Theresa and was willing to talk to a recast if they chose to recast; was appreciating doing Days of Our Lives after her awful experience (via "fans") at General Hospital as a recast.
• Told Lilley they would shoot the twelve-weeks of planned material in her three-to-four week timeframe.
• Everyone declined her belief they had recast the role.
• Asked if they recast; she was told to go to Saitta.
• Went to [redacted former co-executive producer]'s office, and was told storyline was still happening, but with a different Theresa.
• Was willing to cut and dye her hair brunette; was told to dye her hair "blonder," despite her recast being brunette (Emily O'Brien), and was told O'Brien had known for three weeks she'd be playing Theresa, despite Lilley being on-set for two of those weeks, and passing O'Brien in the hallway.
• O'Brien told Lilley she did not want to play Theresa because she was everything she wasn't, and that she was just informed she'd be recast into the role.
• Claims cast were mad at the recast situation, as they are all informed Lilley would be there for the three-to-four weeks to shoot twelve weeks of material.
• Despite the poor handling of the situation, Lilley is still grateful to have been able to go back and honour John Aniston.
• Out of the four weeks she set aside to film, she only filmed two weeks and one day.
• Claims [redacted former co-executive producer] was always kind to her. 

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• She was told her replacement was only finishing off those twelve-weeks worth of scripts (which she nor her agent thought were fully written at that point], but that she will always be Theresa.
• Says she and Kirsten Storms are cool "behind the scenes".

My guess is Friday, considering she taped one word her first day back (Friday cliffhanger), and based on the f**k up on today's episode, she's back at the end of Friday and spends most of NEXT Monday in scenes.

[David_Vickers]

Stupid as hell to recast with Emily O'Brien!!!!  Re-cast if they had to, but with Emily O'Brien, STUPID, IDIOTIC, DUMB.  When this happens I'm done.   What's next Greg Rikaart as a recast Rex or Shawn?

[Vee]

This all sounds ridiculous and I feel for both performers.

[Michael]

Days bungling a personnel situation? Shocking...

[Antoyne]

This is so damn dumb.

[1974mdp]

It was bad enough with the whole Ben/Alex switch-a-roo, but this is beyond stupid...and that's saying A LOT for this show.

[MichaelGL]

The sooner whatshisface stuff stops airing the better, because this just reeks of him.  [redacted former co-executive producer]

Edited August 30, 2023 by MichaelGL

[Liberty City]

According to Lilley, O'Brien is only stepping in for those final weeks of scripts she was initially meant to film, and that the fired EP made the decision to recast three-weeks prior to Lilley's return. So, it was an ultimate set up.

[DRW50]

This is just incomprehensible. I don't understand the time or money spent on these games when your show is lucky to still be on the air.