Rory Gibson Dishes On Michael Corinthos Takeover On ‘General Hospital’

After weeks of speculation, it has been confirmed that Michael Corinthos is returning to “General Hospital” this week. This time, fans will see a new face portraying the role.

“The Young and the Restless” alum Rory Gibson has stepped in to replace Chad Duell, who portrayed Michael for the past 15 years. Gibson, best known for playing Noah Newman from 2021 to 2023, will make his “GH” debut on Friday, May 23.

Speaking with TV Insider, Gibson revealed that he originally auditioned for a different character. But after chatting with executive producer Frank Valentini, he was brought back for a “super, super top secret” role.

Gibson then took part in a series of screen tests alongside “General Hospital” heavyweights, including Kate Mansi (Kristina Corinthos), Katelyn MacMullen (Willow Tait), Steve Burton (Jason Morgan), and Laura Wright (Carly Spencer). Apparently, the chemistry clicked right away, and after a smooth audition process, he was “locked in” for the role.

Rory Gibson Shares How He Prepares For ‘General Hospital’ Stint

Gibson’s new gig as Michael on “General Hospital” is a special opportunity for him. The actor revealed that his family watched the soap “religiously” when he was growing up.

As for his preparation, Gibson took time to familiarize himself with Michael’s complex backstory and tangled family ties. Still, he chose not to dive too deep, aiming instead to bring his own spin to the character.

You don’t want to necessarily copy anything that anyone’s done before, and I know Chad really owned this role and he did incredible, incredible work, so I tried to stay away from watching too many old episodes and was more looking things up online.

Gibson Feels A ‘Strong Connection’ With Michael Corinthos

Ahead of his debut this week, Gibson teased what fans can expect when Michael returns to Port Charles. “The Young and the Restless” alum revealed his character is “at a huge crossroads in his life.”

He has a thirst for vengeance and justice because it’s no secret what Drew put him through. I think he’s at a place where he so badly wants to have a calm and peaceful life, especially after everything he’s gone through, but I don’t necessarily see that happening for him.

Although he’s stepping into a new role, Gibson isn’t turning his back on his “Y&R” alter ego, Noah Newman. The actor shared that he loved portraying the character and cherished the strong bonds he built with his co-stars. Still, he’s looking forward to new experiences on “General Hospital.”

I loved playing Noah, but I do feel a really strong connection to this character of Michael. I feel like he has a lot more at stake and with the storylines that he’s woven into; there’s so much suspense and so much consequence behind all of them. It’s terribly, terribly exciting to play and challenging to play, so I’m feeling very fulfilled in this new role. It’s been very intense, but I’m loving every second of it.

Watch “General Hospital” weekdays on ABC.