Is Steve Burton Really Joining The Days Of Our Lives Spin-Off?
The soap world was set ablaze in the fall of 2021 when it was announced that actor Steve Burton had been fired from "General Hospital." The official news hit after rumors circulated that Burton had been dropped from the sudser after refusing to comply with the show's COVID-19 vaccination mandate, per Variety.
Burton took to social media to announce the news himself. "I wanted you to hear it from me personally," he said via Instagram. "Unfortunately, 'General Hospital' has let me go because of the vaccine mandate. I did apply for my medical and religious exemptions, and both of those were denied. Which, you know, hurts. But this is also about personal freedom to me," Burton stated.
"GH" viewers have watched Burton portray the character of Jason Morgan on and off since 1991. He also previously held a role on "The Young and the Restless." However, he's not ruling out a return to "General Hospital" in the future. "Maybe one day if these mandates are lifted, I can return and finish my career as Jason Morgan. That would be an honor," he added (via Instagram).
However, for soap fans who are missing Burton's presence on "General Hospital," there may be a way to see him back on the small screen, as rumors are running wild that the actor has joined the second season of the "Days of Our Lives" spin-off series, "Beyond Salem."
Will Steve Burton reprise his former DOOL role, or will he be a long-awaited recast?
According to Soap Dirt, a source reportedly spilled the beans about Steve Burton's involvement with the "Days of Our Lives" spin-off "Beyond Salem" on the "Creative Inc. Will & Cassie" podcast. The source claimed that Burton has joined Season 2 of the Peacock series alongside Kristian Alfonso and Peter Reckell, who will be returning as beloved couple Bo and Hope Brady (via TV Season Spoilers).
Previously, Burton did appear on "DOOL" in the 1980s as a character named Harris Michaels. He shared much of his screen time with Eve Donovan. However, since nothing has officially been confirmed by the actors or the network, it's unclear if Burton would reprise his former role. Some fans have already started to speculate about how Burton could fit into "Beyond Salem," suggesting that he may step into the role of Peter Blake, who hasn't been seen on the sudser in years (via Reddit).
Soap enthusiasts are hoping that the rumors are true and that they'll be seeing Burton back in action when "Beyond Salem" begins its five-episode run on Peacock this summer.