Days of our Lives Comings and Goings: Javi Recast Set as Justin Returns. Big casting changes are coming to Salem! ⏳ A fresh face joins the Hernandez family as the new Javi, while fan favorite Wally Kurth returns for a heartfelt father-son bond. Plus, Jada delivers devastating news that changes everything! 🏙️🎭✨

A big recast has been announced at Days of our Lives, and a longtime fan favorite is back, too. Here’s the soap’s latest casting news for the Peacock drama.

Key Takeaways

• Jacob Martinez has been cast as the new Javi and will debut on June 30.
• Wally Kurth returns as Justin, sharing scenes with Alex on May 7.
• Amy Choi remains front and center as Jada delivers troubling news about Sophia.

The Week of May 4, 2026

Although news of Al Calderon’s exit from the soap as Javi Hernandez was revealed last summer, the show has finally revealed who’ll be stepping into his role as Gabi (Cherie Hernandez) and Rafe’s (Galen Gering) cousin. (Calderon was cast on the NBC prime time series Brilliant Minds and began airing in October 2025.) Jacob Martinez, a daytime newcomer with a background in theater, has nabbed the part. He’s set to make his debut on June 30.

Beloved vet Wally Kurth is back on the scene as Justin Kiriakis. Look for the actor to air in scenes opposite his onscreen son, Robert Scott Wilson’s Justin, as the pair bond over fatherhood on Thursday, May 7.

Shi Ne Nielsen continues to be featured prominently as Sophia’s (Rachel Boyd) mother, Amy Choi. Elia Cantu’s Jada gives the character troubling news about her daughter on Tuesday, May 5. (Sophia went rogue last week when she tried to commit murder.) Choi also shares scenes with Carson Boatman’s Johnny on Thursday, May 7.

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Soaps.com may receive atold Rafe and Gabi that he’s staying in Salem! He let his job know he’s coming back full time, and he’s picking up right where he left off. Well, give or take a relationship or two.

For everyone surprised at this news, we can understand if there’s more than a little confusion about whether he’s staying or leaving.

When we learned that Al Calderon was leaving, the show assured us that Javi was “alive and well in Salem,” before we learned that the role was, indeed, being recast. And then Gwen blew up Leo and Javi’s wedding by bringing Dimitri to town and the once-happy couple split. Leo was left to sort out his feelings with Dimitri and Javi went back to Texas to care for his father after surgery.

And, well, we really haven’t seen him since. At least not until Javi showed up at the end of Friday’s episode! So while it seemed like Calderon’s run had come to an end, Days of Our Lives did assure us that he’d be back in April… but not for good. Because the actor has left the role, and, as we learned back when he first exited, Javi’s recast would begin airing in May.

We just don’t know exactly yet when Calderon’s final date is or when we’ll be meeting our new Javi — or who he is, for that matter!

But with Leo having finally figured out his feelings (and Dimitri letting his horrible, vile, true colors shine through), so long as Javi’s around, there’s hope for these two getting back together. It just might take a little while, since Swoon reports that Javi’s about to find himself a new boyfriend! (Please don’t be Dimitri.)

In Salem, love finds a way. And sooner or later, it looks like Leo and Javi will find their way back to each other.  commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

The good news just keeps on coming! Not only is Javi back on Days of Our Lives, he’s already