General Hospital's Katelyn MacMullen on what life without Chad Duell is really like

With Chad Duell officially off the General Hospital canvas, Port Charles is going to look a lot different without Michael Corinthos. According to Katelyn MacMullen, her life already looks and feels different without Duell on set each day.

Willow and Michael brought MacMullen and Duell together

There has never been a time since MacMullen joined the GH cast in 2018 that she has not worked with Duell. When Willow first arrived in Port Charles, she quickly bonded with Michael in a support group for people who had lost children.

Michael was there because he believed his son had died at birth. Willow had just given an infant son up for adoption but had no idea her son was really the child who had passed, and Michael's son was being raised by adoptive dads Brad and Lucas.

Willow and Michael started out as friends as Willow fell for Harrison Chase (Josh Swickard), and Michael was with Sasha (Sofia Mattsson). However, that all changed in 2020 with Michael and Willow's marriage of convenience. By 2021, they were in love, but their second marriage fell apart in 2024 when Willow cheated on Michael with his uncle Drew (Cameron Mathison). Now, a severely burned Michael is in Germany for treatment while Willow remains behind with their kids as she hangs on every word Drew says.

A new General Hospital life for Katelyn MacMullen

After more than six years of working with Duell on a continuous basis, everything feels a bit odd for MacMullen when she goes to work. Since it's only been a short time, she knows she has to get used to this new set of circumstances. The actress also couldn't believe it when Duell told her of his decision to leave GH behind.

"On the one hand, I was so sad because I was like, 'Wait, I can’t even imagine this. I’ve seen you every single day, or practically every single day, since I started working here,'" MacMullen said in an interview with Soap Opera Digest. "I was like, 'You’re my pal, so this is so sad.' And then on the other hand, I was like, 'Okay, if this is what he wants, then I’m happy for him.' The actor in me is like, 'Oh, my gosh, you have to follow your heart!' So, on the one hand, I was happy for him, and on the other hand, I was very sad for me."

While she may be happy for her former co-star, life at GH has been an adjustment for MacMullen.

"I do notice that it feels different because I’ll be like, 'Oh, that’s weird. Usually, Chad walks up to me at this point, or we have a little conversation here or there, or we’d give each other fake dirty looks in the hallway,'" she said. "You know what I mean? There are just these little things that happened with Chad and me throughout the day and I’m like, 'Oh, weird. That’s not happening!'"

Michael and Willow Together Again?

Still, like many fans, MacMullen hopes Duell's exit is not permanent. The door has been left open for his return, and the actor himself has not ruled it out down the line.

"I’m not letting my brain go to the place of, I’ll never see him in these halls again, you know what I mean?" she asked. "Like, I’m just feeling hopeful that we will see him again."

With Michael still alive and receiving a promising experimental burn treatment, MacMullen's wish could very well come true. There's definitely plenty of story to tell for estranged spouses Michael and Willow. Perhaps they can even forgive one another and reunite...

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