Days of Our Lives’ Stefano Recast? ‘There’s a Reason He’s Known as The Phoenix’
Jaws dropped when Days of Our Lives’ summer preview hinted at a comeback for the late, great Stefano DiMera, played from 1982-2016 by the also late, great Joseph Mascolo. “There’s a reason he’s known as The Phoenix,” Rafe noted. No matter how badly burned the power monger is, he always finds a way to rise from the ashes. In fact, the indestructible villain has already returned once since he was killed by Hope, with his essence being implanted in good guy Steve.
How will the Peacock soap bring Stefano back this time? Good question. Since Steve is running around Salem and the video hints that Stefano is about to awaken from the ultimate power nap, it seems unlikely that Kayla’s husband will once again be taken over by the menace to society. So who will be Stefano when he is reactivated?
We actually have a few ideas about that, actors who could pick up where Mascolo left off and make their own mark on the role. Initially, we thought, “Nah. They can’t really recast. That would be like replacing Bold & Beautiful’s OG Sally Spectra or General Hospital’s Luke Spencer.” But then we thought, what better testament could there be to the iconic character that Mascolo created that, even years after his passing, Stefano’s name remains on everyone’s lips. Neither we nor the show can let go.
