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Soap operas are well-known for frequently changing their cast, but when Chad Duell revealed his departure from “General Hospital” in November 2024, it caught the attention of the show’s loyal viewers. Duell’s portrayal of Michael Corinthos, the offspring of the late A. J. Quartermaine and the fiery Carly Corinthos, spanned an impressive fifteen years, taking his character through numerous dramatic arcs. The reason for his exit? Duell sought a change after experiencing a personal loss. “A lot of stuff’s been going on in my life,” he shared during an appearance on “The Daily Drama Podcast” in December 2024. “There’s a few things behind it, but one thing I did say is my dad passed away and I’m still coming to terms with that.” He expressed feeling “stifled” and emphasized, “Sometimes you need to take drastic steps or make yourself feel uncomfortable to take a step.”
Christine Bartolucci/Disney
In his discussions with executive producer Frank Valentini, Duell made it clear that he was open to returning to “General Hospital” in the future, ensuring no bridges were burned. He reflected on his long tenure as Michael, stating he needed to discover his identity beyond acting. “Come January, I have a few things planned that I wanna do for myself, and it’s different because I have a kid now, but also at the same time, for him, and me as well, and everybody, it’s doing what’s best for me, spiritually, mentally,” he explained. Meanwhile, the show had to move forward without him, quickly recasting the vital role of Michael Corinthos.
Taking up the mantle in May 2025, Rory Gibson became the newest actor to portray Michael Corinthos, adding to the legacy of the character. Before Duell, Michael had been played by Dylan Cash (“Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”) and Drew Garrett (“The Mentalist”), with the role undergoing several rapid age advancements. Gibson took time to understand Michael’s intricate history and his role within the Port Charles community but aimed to avoid imitating Duell’s portrayal. “You don’t want to necessarily copy anything that anyone’s done before, and I know Chad really owned this role and he did incredible, incredible work, so I tried to stay away from watching too many old episodes and was more looking things up online,” Gibson told TV Insider.
As often happens with unexpected recasts, “General Hospital” chose not to provide an elaborate explanation for Michael’s new appearance, allowing Gibson to seamlessly step into the ongoing storyline. With Michael’s turbulent relationship with his girlfriend Sasha (played by Sofia Mattsson) reaching another challenging phase, Gibson found ample opportunity to win over the audience, which he successfully did. For Gibson, audience approval is paramount, including that of his own family. “My family watched ‘General Hospital’ religiously when I was growing up,” he said. “My grandma and my mom were diehard fans.” Understandably, they were ecstatic when he was announced as the new Michael Corinthos.
Rory Gibson is the latest Michael Corinthos
Christine Bartolucci/Disney
Rory Gibson began playing Michael Corinthos in May 2025, becoming the latest in a line of actors to inhabit the role. Dylan Cash (“Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”) and Drew Garrett (“The Mentalist”) both had stints as Michael prior to Chad Duell, with the character having undergone more than one rapid age-up. Gibson carefully familiarized himself with Michael’s background and place in Port Charles society, but he wanted to avoid repeating Duell’s quirks. “You don’t want to necessarily copy anything that anyone’s done before, and I know Chad really owned this role and he did incredible, incredible work, so I tried to stay away from watching too many old episodes and was more looking things up online,” he told TV Insider.
As is often the case when TV characters need to be unexpectedly recast, “General Hospital” didn’t bother to give a creative explanation for Michael’s new face, with Gibson simply stepping into the storyline. Since Michael’s on-and-off-again relationship with his girlfriend Sasha (played by Sofia Mattsson) had just hit another snag, the new boy had ample opportunity to win viewers over, and he managed to do so. For Gibson, making the fans happy is what matters, and that includes his family. “My family watched ‘General Hospital’ religiously when I was growing up,” he said. “My grandma and my mom were diehard fans.” Needless to say, they were thrilled when he was confirmed as the new Michael Corinthos.
