Will Michael be recast after Chad Duell exit? General Hospital's Frank Valentini weighs in

The news that General Hospital star Chad Duell will be exiting the soap after 14 years shocked the soap world on the evening of November 23. Now, Executive Producer Frank Valentini has more news about the shocking departure.

General Hospital exec on Chad Duell exit

General Hospital's Chad Duell as Michael | Image Source: ABC

Valentini took to X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday night to confirm Duell's exit and wish the actor luck. Duell has been a member of the GH cast since 2010 playing Carly Spencer's (Laura Wright) oldest child. He also revealed that there are no plans to recast the character at this time.

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"I am sad to confirm the news of Chad Duell’s forthcoming exit from #GeneralHospital," Valentini wrote. "I have loved working with Chad over the years and wish him nothing but the best. He is a terrific actor and will be missed by everyone at #GH. There are no plans to recast his role at this time, but you never know in daytime. I can promise a great story for Michael and his family when Chad exits in the new year."

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Since 2022, The Young and the Restless alum Robert Adamson (ex-Noah Newman) had filled in for Duell when he was unable to work, leaving some fans wondering if he might become the new Michael. Now that question has been answered. However, now fans wonder how the character will be written off the canvas.

A hot exit story for Michael?

Could Michael exit GH with a baby on the way? Image Source: ABC

Duell's exit comes hot on the heels of another shocking GH departure. Kelly Monaco taped her last scenes on September 27 after 21 years and her character, Sam McCall, was killed off at the end of October in a very permanent way. With Valentini speculating that a recast could come at some point in time, it stands to reason that Michael won't meet the same fate as Sam.

Currently, Michael is embroiled in a scandalous and soapy plot in which he just learned his wife, Willow (Katelyn MacMullen), had an affair with his uncle, Drew (Camron Mathison). However, Michael also had his own one-night stand with Sasha (Sofia Mattsson). With Sasha believing she could be pregnant and Michael plotting revenge against Drew, there's no telling which story could help usher him off the soap. Then again, something completely unexpected could happen before the new year begins that ends Michael's time in Port Charles — for now.

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