Days of our Lives celebrated its 61st anniversary on November 8, and executive producer Ken Corday has some definite ideas about where Salem is heading. With Dominic Marino joining the DiMera family, familiar faces returning, and new romances on the horizon, there’s plenty happening. However, Corday wants the show’s future to remain connected to its past, even if that past includes a few relatives who refuse to stay dead.
Key Takeaways
- Ken Corday outlined his plans for DAYS, emphasizing Salem’s core families, relationships, and longtime traditions.
- EJ and Dominic will carry on Stefano’s DiMera legacy, while the influence of Stefano and Victor will remain part of the show.
- Corday discussed Marlena’s future and suggested that finding another romantic partner isn’t necessary for her story.
- New romances, complicated love triangles, and a mysterious female character arriving in spring 2027 are on the horizon.
Ken Corday Wants to Keep Salem’s Traditions Alive
Corday spoke to Soaps about the show’s anniversary and his plans for the future. He explained that the return of Tony (Thaao Penghlis) and Anna (Leann Hunley), along with Dominic’s (Kyle Pryor) introduction, reflects the direction he wants the soap to take. The focus remains on Salem’s core families, their relationships, and the mysteries that keep everyone guessing.
Those relationships also mean preserving the traditions viewers have enjoyed for decades. “We entrust our writers to keep the traditions and homey feelings intact,” Corday explained. That includes the Horton Christmas tree, family celebrations, and the familiar gatherings that occasionally end with somebody revealing a shocking secret.
The DiMeras will remain particularly important as EJ (Dan Feuerriegel) and Dominic carry on Stefano’s (Joseph Mascolo) legacy. “Stefano does loom large, just as Victor Kiriakis does,” Corday acknowledged. While nobody can replace Mascolo or John Aniston, the influence of their characters will continue through the families they left behind.
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Marlena’s Future and a New Face in Salem
Corday also addressed Marlena’s (Deidre Hall) future following John’s (Drake Hogestyn) death. Although another romance remains possible, he emphasized the importance of strong women whose stories don’t depend on finding another partner. “A romantic partner isn’t necessarily required, is it?” he asked.
Romance certainly isn’t disappearing from Salem, though. Corday promised new relationships, reunited couples, and complicated love triangles involving the town’s interconnected families. The DiMeras and Kiriakises will continue clashing, while the Hortons, Bradys, Carvers, and Hernandezes remain central to upcoming stories.
There’s also a newcomer on the way who could make things considerably more entertaining. “I’m particularly excited about a brand-new character who brings some levity to the canvas and gets herself involved with almost everyone in Salem,” Corday revealed. She arrives in spring 2027, although her identity remains a mystery. Considering Salem’s population, getting involved with practically everyone should keep her busy.
