E.J. DiMera's 2014 death on Days of our Lives shattered viewers' hearts into more pieces than a vase thrown at a fireplace, so when it was revealed in 2018 that the character was alive, fans immediately got their hopes up for a triumphant return. Nothing has yet to materialize, but with Alison Sweeney, who plays E.J.'s wife, Sami Brady, set to return again -- this time with a long-term deal -- it's only a matter of time before the writers must decide their future storyline plans for the character. Sadly, no matter what they plan, E.J. will not be played by James Scott because the actor has unleashed his inner Taylor Swift to proclaim that he and DAYS are never, ever, ever getting back together.
Many fans might not know that Scott -- who played DAYS' E.J. from 2006 to 2014 and All My Children's Ethan Cambias from 2004 to 2006 -- has actually retired from acting and is instead running a business called The Whisper Within, which helps people find their own inner compass and trust and act from that place.
Shares Scott on the website, "In 2014, after a successful career in the entertainment industry, I found myself with everything and nothing. I had money, celebrity, and status and the grief to match it. I had worked tirelessly for the better part of two decades to attain wealth and validation, yet no external thing could touch the emptiness I felt and the worthlessness I experienced."
Scott decided to face his "despair and depression" in order to change his life, which led to an Indian meditation center. "I went for a week and stayed for a year," he writes, adding that the experience helped him discover a "newfound peace" and that he now strives to "inspire others to do the same."
Despite Scott's exciting new career path, some fans have held out hope that he will one day return to DAYS. But he has confirmed that he has no plans to return to Hollywood, let alone Salem.
In an Instagram post shared via The Whisper Within, Scott informed his followers that he recently had the pleasure of teaching with Dr. Deepak Chopra, an alternative medicine advocate. He captioned the post, "To follow your heart is to never know where you will be lead, that is the beauty of its mystery. It was a pleasure to spend a morning teaching with Dr Chopra."
One of Scott's fans used the opportunity to express how much she misses Scott and suggested that he call Days of Our Lives and come back to Salem with Sami. The actor was quick to reply with a confirmation of his daytime status, writing, "@thisnthatfinds_tricia_baker hi thank you for joining me here, please know that I will never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Go back to hollywood let alone DOOL. There is nothing interesting there for me. J."
So, there you have it: Scott is clearly not interested in reprising the role of E.J. However, that doesn't mean that the powers that be at DAYS won't bring the character back. Recasts are a dime a dozen on soap operas --- though it would admittedly be tough to replace Scott, who is a fan favorite and earned two Daytime Emmy Award nominations while he was in the role. But if storyline dictates a return, then it's going to happen -- especially now that Scott has insisted that he will not be part of the equation. So, who could you see playing the role of E.J. DiMera if the writers bring the character back to Salem? Let us know your choices in the Comments section below!
How do you feel about James Scott insisting that he will never return to DAYS? Would you accept an E.J. DiMera recast? If so, who could you see playing the role? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.
