After months of speculation that Days of our Lives has recast the character of E.J. DiMera, the NBC soap opera has confirmed that it has indeed decided to give the MIA Salemite a new face.
As Soap Central reported in April, Australian actor Daniel Feuerriegel has stepped into the shoes of the character previously played by James Scott. Deadline reports that the actor -- whose previous credits include the Spartacus franchise and the Australian soap opera Home & Away -- will first air on Wednesday, June 9.
"E.J. has always been an important character to the Salem landscape," says DAYS executive producer Ken Corday. "We're thrilled to have found Dan to bring him back to the canvas."
Adds Feuerriegel, "I am so excited to bring E.J. back to Days of our Lives and to see what flavor I can bring to Salem."
DAYS fans last saw E.J. in 2014, when he was presumably shot to death by employees of Clyde Weston (James Read). It was later revealed that Kristen (then played by Eileen Davidson) had secretly injected her adopted brother with Dr. Rolf's (William Utay) now-infamous serum that brings people back from the dead.
The very-much-alive E.J. eventually reunited with Sami (Alison Sweeney) and their kids, but the important moment happened off-screen -- as did a later explosion that left E.J. severely injured. The character has been recuperating in Europe since that time and is supposedly still getting well. He has no idea what Sami has recently been up to in Salem -- mainly sleeping with her ex Lucas (Bryan Dattilo) -- but could wind of his wife's indiscretion bring him back to the canvas in fighting form? Keep tuning in to DAYS to find out!
Some of Feuerriegel's additional credits include Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., NCIS: Los Angeles, and Chicago Fire.
What do you think about DAYS recasting the role of E.J. DiMera? What do you hope from the character when he returns to Salem this June? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.
