Is Jason dead on General Hospital

Longtime General Hospital character Jason Morgan was crushed in a tunnel collapse and presumed dead last week, a storyline move that was dictated by the exit of portrayer Steve Burton, who was ousted from the ABC soap opera after he chose not to comply with the show's mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy. But is Jason really dead?

While many GH fans feel that there's no way the character has truly kicked the bucket, Variety reports that "there are no plans at this time to recast" the role -- which means Jason is going to stay dead, at least for the time being. The publication did not cite a source -- named or unnamed -- in its report.

As Soap Central previously reported, Burton claimed that he applied for medical and religious exemptions from the vaccine mandate, but both were denied by the network. Nobody knows what the future will bring, but in a video announcement that confirmed his exit from GH, Burton said he remains hopeful that he will one day be able to return to the role he's been playing since 1991.

"I am excited to see what the future brings and maybe one day if these mandates are lifted, I can return and finish my career as Jason Morgan, that would be an honor," he said. "And if not, I'm gonna take this amazing experience move forward and be forever grateful."

Burton wasn't the only actor whose relationship with GH ended due to the show's vaccine policy. Ingo Rademacher (Jasper "Jax" Jacks) also chose not to comply with the vaccine mandate and made his last appearance the week of November 22, when Jax decided to return to Australia.

How do you feel about GH's decision to not recast the role of Jason Morgan at this time? Do you hope Steve Burton will one day be able to return to the role? We want to hear from you -- and there are many ways you can share your thoughts.

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Credit: ABC

Six months after General Hospital killed off Jason (again), it would appear — but only appear — that ABC’s one and only daytime drama has recast the pivotal role with Josh Kelly.

According to our sister site Deadline, the daytime vet — once Cutter on One Life to Live — has been added to the daytime drama’s roster of series regulars. As for his character? As often is the case when a new actor is tapped to fill an old role — see also: Cameron Mathison taking over for Billy Miller as Drew — the part is shrouded in mystery.

However, Deadline reports that the UnREAL vet’s Port Charles alter ego “will greatly affect the lives of Sam, Dante and Britt” — in other words, Jason’s former wife, her new boyfriend and the lover who was left in the lurch by Stone Cold’s untimely demise. If that doesn’t sound like the Mob muscle who was about to consummate his marriage to Carly when Sonny returned from the dead — yes, it happens a lot on General Hospital — we don’t know what does!

You’ll recall that in November, Steve Burton confirmed that he had been let go by the soap after refusing to comply with the vaccine mandate that had been put in place to safeguard the cast and crew from COVID-19. The Emmy winner has since been hired to appear in the next installment of Peacock’s Days of Our Lives spinoff, Beyond Salem.

Do you think Kelly could really be playing Jason? He’d certainly fit the bill. While you wrap your brain around the possibility, catch up on the latest General Hospital exits via our handy-dandy scorecard.

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