Chandler Massey
Chandler Massey, pictured at the 41st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in Beverly Hills, California on June 22, 2014, is returning to “Days of Our Lives” as Will Horton. Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Fans have been clamoring for his return to “Days of Our Lives” for years, and were disheartened when it seemed like the chance to welcome him back was snuffed out completely when his character was killed off the show in 2015. However, an on-screen character death is officially not keeping Chandler Massey away from the NBC soap, as he is set to return later this Fall.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Massey returned to work on the soap opera last month and will be on-screen again sometime in September, and Massey is ecstatic to be making his return to the show, which he left back in 2013.

“I am so excited to be bringing Will back to Salem!” he told EW. “I can’t wait for the fans to see what we have planned. You won’t want to miss it!”

Massey previously won two Daytime Emmys for portraying the character of Will Horton on the soap, and helped usher in a major moment for NBC when his character, who was gay, kissed another man onscreen in 2012. It was the first time NBC had ever featured a kiss between two men on one of the network’s shows.

Massey left the show in 2013, and was replaced by Guy Wilson, who continued the character’s run until 2015. During his time in the role, Will and Sonny (Freddie Smith) had the first gay wedding featured on the soap, and Will also became involved in a torrid affair with Sonny’s ex-boyfriend, Paul (Christopher Sean). However, the character met a shocking end during the show’s 50th anniversary in 2015, when Will became the final victim of the Red Necktie Killer, Ben Weston (Robert Scott Wilson).

No one from the show has confirmed how exactly Will is being brought back from the dead, though fans have reacted with enthusiasm online over the news.

His return is also notable because of the previous reveal that Alison Sweeney would be bringing Will’s mother, Sami Brady, back to Salem this fall as well.

“From my end, it takes a little bit of logistics with projects I’m working on,” she said of her return. “And unfortunately, this year’s been hard for me because of my knee injury, so I had to push some stuff back. So, I figured out a schedule, blocked out some time that I had available and we figured it out! I’ll be shooting in Salem in May and June.”

Read: Eric Gets A Lead On Nicole’s Whereabouts On “Days Of Our Lives”​

Fans hoped that news of her return meant that her departed husband. EJ DiMera (James Scott) would also return to the soap, though there has been no indication that his return is scheduled anytime soon, or at all.

The news of both Will and Sami returning however should be good for the soap, which has been struggling in ratings and was even rumored to be on the chopping block earlier this year. The show has seen a slew of big name characters disappear from the canvas in recent years, starting with Sami and EJ in 2014. Since they left the show, Joseph Mascolo’s death led to the official end of Stefano’s storyline. In addition, Eileen Davidson’s Kristen DiMera was killed off, as was Shawn Christian’s Daniel, Wilson’s version of Will, and Peter Reckell’s Bo Brady. Kate Mansi also left her role as Abigail Devereaux, resulting in a recast, while Jen Lilley departed as Theresa Donovan.

In addition, the members of the cast who are leaving has only grown in 2017, with departures announced for Ciara Brady (Vivian Jovanni), Deimos Kiriakis (Vincent Irizarry) and Nicole Walker (Arianne Zucker).

Massey has not officially announced his return on social media.

“Days of Our Lives” airs weekdays on NBC.

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