UPDATE 10:01 PM ET: Carnes just tweeted, “Ah, Port Charles, it is!”
While hints of a possible return to “General Hospital” began on his Twitter page last week, where he referred to numerous Ports in the world (Portlandia, Port Hueneme, Port of Los Angeles, Port of Long Beach), an ABC representative confirms to Soap Opera Network that actor Ryan Carnes will be reprising his role as Lucas Jones, the adopted son of Bobbie (Jacklyn Zeman) and Tony Jones (Brad Maule), on the ABC Daytime drama series. “Like a ship lost in the night at sea, wondering where my next port will be…,” Carnes tweeted on Wednesday, December 4.
Last seen in Port Charles in 2006, as portrayed by actor Ben Hogestyn (real-life son of “Days of our Lives'” Drake Hogestyn), Lucas came out to his friends and family, but soon disappeared from the canvas shortly thereafter. Upon her return to Port Charles earlier this year, Bobbie stated that Lucas is now living in Seattle, Washington, but still looking for the perfect man. With Zeman’s recent return, it had been rumored that Lucas would soon follow suit. Lucas is the biological son of Julian Jerome (William deVry).
Considering “GH” currently has an active gay canvas that consists of Felix Dubois (Marc Samuel) and Brad Cooper (Parry Shen), but no real storyline surrounding the two outside of portraying supporting characters in the baby switch and Patrick/Sabrina/Robin storylines, the return of Lucas would open up the series to potential storylines and media attention that “DAYS” currently enjoys with its characters Will Horton (Chandler Massey) and Sonny Kiriakis (Freddie Smith). Incidentally, Carnes is no stranger to playing gay on TV or in film. The actor previously portrayed Marc Everhard in 2004’s “Eating Out” and Justin, Andrew Van de Kamp’s (Shawn Pyfrom) first boyfriend, on ABC’s “Desperate Housewives.”
Per the rep, there is no first airdate or storyline details available at this time. It’s also unclear if Carnes is returning under contract or just recurring status.