General Hospital 2025 preview: Michael's dramatic exit, Sonny's 'existential crisis,' and more

The year 2025 is set to start with quite a bang on General Hospital as it always does. Two years ago, Esme emerged with amnesia at GH and last year Sonny learned that Nina was the one who ratted Drew and Carly out to the SEC. My, how things have changed over a year...

Sonny re-examines his life

When Sonny (Maurice Benard) learned about Nina's (Cynthia Watros) duplicity, he angrily attacked Cyrus (Jeff Kober) in a church for his part in the reveal. This year, Sonny and Nina are divorced, Cyrus is the villain who killed Sam (Kelly Monaco), and Sonny is just trying to move on with his life. However, head writers Elizabeth Korte and Chris Van Etten preview another dramatic start to a new year for Sonny.

"Sonny is hit with an existential crisis that has him re-examining his personal and professional lives," they told TV Insider. "He’ll be forced to make a big decision about his future and anything that impacts the reigning mob boss of Port Charles will impact everyone on the canvas."

Could this crisis have anything to do with Sonny's chest pains?

Michael's swan song?

With Chad Duell choosing to exit GH, it's also time to write Michael Corinthos off the canvas, and he is going to do it in quite a dramatic way. Of course, Drew (Cameron Mathison) and Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) will be involved.

"Drew and Willow’s affair has Michael’s family crumbling around him," the writers said. "But he doesn’t take their transgression lying down. He’s ready to fight back — when a shocking act of violence has his plans go up in smoke."

That sounds like Michael could be killed, but does GH really want to murder another long-time character after just writing off Sam in the same manner?

Meanwhile, Willow and Drew still seem obsessed with one another, and Willow's hero worship of Drew becomes more intense. According to what the writers told TV Insider, "an unlikely alliance is formed to rip the blinders off Willow." Could that unlikely alliance be between Nina and Carly (Laura Wright)?

Potential General Hospital pairs?

Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) and Lulu (Alexa Havins) will continue dancing around one another as Lulu tries to let Dante grieve for Sam while still longing for him. The pair do have an adventure trying to get Charlotte (Scarlett Fernandez) home from Prague, but once back in Port Charles, they dance around their feelings. Someone else could come along to take their hearts and minds off each other...

Jason (Steve Burton) finds himself more drawn into Sasha's (Sofia Mattsson) life than he ever expected, thanks to Michael. Will he end up posing as the father of her child?

As for Ava (Maura West) and Ric (Rick Hearst), they grow much closer in the new year, but Ava may learn the hard way that Ric's heart is always with Elizabeth.

Oddly enough, we could find romance for Tracy in 2025 with an unlikely source — all thanks to Willow and Drew.

"Tracy takes up arms against Drew, but he proves a formidable enemy – especially when he enlists Martin’s legal aid," Korte and Van Etten told TV Insider. "Martin will prove a match for Tracy … perhaps in more ways than one."

Catch all-new episodes of General Hospital weekdays on ABC and Hulu.