'The Young and the Restless' Cast News, Spoilers: Jill Farren Phelps Talks Adam Newman Casting, Is Michael Muhney Returning?
"The Young and the Restless" fans are still searching for answers in regards to their favorite character, Adam Newman.
The character disappeared earlier this year after actor Michael Muhney was fired from the role amidst sexual harassment allegations. Ever since, "Y&R" has teased that Adam is alive, but the network has not rehired or replaced Muhney in the role. For the first time since Muhney's firing, "Y&R" showrunner Jill Farren Phelps has spoken out about the role of Adam.
Firstly, when asked about how the search was going in casting Adam Newman, Phelps replied, "It's going," according to Soap Digest via Hollywood News Daily. Furthermore, the "Y&R" exec confirmed that, as of today, no actor has been cast in the "pivotal" role on the soap opera.
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"We hope [Adam returns]," Phelps added. "He's a very pivotal character. His return will blow the canvas right open."
Furthermore, the showrunner addressed "Y&R" fans who were outraged by Muhney's firing.
"We want everybody to be happy all the time, but stuff happens and people leave," she said. "People die. The show must go on and it has successfully done so for over 40 years, and it will continue to … We are aware of the fact that sometimes there is an adjustment that we ask the audience to make, but we believe that if they just stay with us, they will have their characters back and their stories will be told."
Muhney's "Y&R" exit continues to upset fans, with many boycotting the soap opera and campaigning for the actor's return. Consequently, reports have indicated that "Y&R" ratings have gone down. However, Phelps noted that "Y&R" is growing stronger.
"The show must go on and it has successfully done so for over 40 years, and it will continue to," she assured Soap Opera Digest. "We are only going to get stronger and stronger."
Meanwhile, rumors of Muhney returning to the role of Adam have run rampantly over the last few months. On June 17, Muhney's mother addressed the rumors on Twitter when she dismissed that Adam's hands on "Y&R" were that of her son's.
"I hate to dash anyone's hopes, but those aren't Michael's hands on 'Y&R,'" she wrote. "His tweets have NOTHING to do with the show."
