Days of our Lives Star Freddie Smith Sets Record Straight On Show’s Future

There’s still no official word from NBC, Sony, or Days of our Lives on reports of the soap going on hiatus and the cast members being taken off contract, but some of the show’s stars are speaking out on the news.

Days of our Lives: Ready For The Future

Freddie Smith, who plays Sonny Kiriakis, on his podcast, The Freddie & Alyssa Show, recently explained what he feels is going on in an attempt to quell negative information about the show’s future.

“This is such a hot topic with DAYS being in the news,” Smith shared on the podcast he does with fiancé Alyssa Tabit. Smith feels for those people who’ve been keeping tabs on him, the “news” wasn’t as shocking. “I’ve mentioned that we’re going on a hiatus so I think everyone [who has heard me say that] was not as panicked [when reports started surfacing]. I’ve been speaking vocally about it — saying, ‘Hey, [at] Thanksgiving, we’re done for a while.'”

Smith believes that the actors going off-contract until production resumes (which he hears will be as early as January 15 or as late as April 1) is a cost-cutting measure necessary in order to bring DAYS back for another year.

“They want to save money,” he says. “It’s all about money. Canceling the contracts of 30 series regulars, if I had to guess, is going to save a couple of million dollars. So if that couple of millions of dollars is going to help negotiate us to get picked up for another year [that’s a good thing].”

Reports have indicated that NBC wants to renew the show and Smith says he’s seeing signs that is the case. “A lot of new sets are being built,” he notes. “If we were never coming back, why would they be investing money?

“Why would they be spending money on a web series on the DOOL App?” Smith also noted that money was spent on the recent Day of DAYS event. Noting that some of those costs are spent by NBC and some by Corday Productions, Smith acknowledges, “It’s complicated.”