General Hospital Spoilers: Maurice Benard Talks Looming Retirement — Who Will Run the Business?
General Hospital Spoilers reluctantly reports Maurice Benard is starting to get pretty candid about his days being numbered as Sonny Corinthos. Say it ain’t so! I know, I know! Daytime’s favorite mob boss has been a cornerstone of the show and of Port Charles since 1993.
We’ve watched him grow up, battle his demons, face ups and downs, struggling with mental health and failed marriage after failed marriage.
We’ve watched him become a father, become a saint, and even become an amnesiac. Now, it sounds like we’re well on our way to watching him become a retired soap veteran.
Benard recently interviewed with Richard Taite on his show, We’re Out of Time. His comments have left some fans in a tizzy thinking we could be without Sonny in just a few short years. What will that mean for his character, his family, and “the business?”
Sonny Has Had a Good Run
All good things must come to an end, or so they say, but there will never be a day that we’re ready to say goodbye to the charm, warmth, and diverse drama Benard has brought into the role of Sonny Corinthos.
We certainly don’t see the role ever being recast. It wouldn’t make sense, and it wouldn’t honor the character or the actor well after more than 30 years of crafting the mobster into the best version he could be.
If he was out tomorrow, we might not have the closure we want, but we wouldn’t feel like he missed a beat either. Still, it’s somehow never enough time.
GH Spoilers Gossip a Few People Could Take the Reins
When Sonny was thinking about getting out of the business last year, he wasn’t sure how to pass the torch because Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) had recently become the sole parent to Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn).
He couldn’t take the risk of becoming the new Sonny, but that might change as Danny grows up and ages out.
Who knows, maybe Jason will be the new Sonny and Danny will become the new Jason! It’s also possible that an enemy like Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota), Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart), or Selina Wu (Lydia Look) finally gets Sonny where he wants him, too.
Of course, a final goodbye is possible as well. Yes, Sonny could die. I mean, he’s done it before.
Maybe It’s Mental, and Maybe It’s Michael
Benard told Taite his mental health couldn’t withstand waiting until 75 to retire, and mentioned 65 being a more realistic minimum benchmark. So, if Benard expects to find his way to retirement because of his emotional highs and lows as a sufferer of Bipolar Disorder, it could be that Sonny’s storyline is written off the same way.
Will he spiral into the abyss, have a breakdown, or grow suicidal? If it comes to pass that Sonny isn’t going to be cut out for the business anymore, we have to wonder whether Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson) might be the one to fill his shoes. Lately, Michael has been a bit edgier.
He’s plotting against Willow Tait (Katelyn MacMullen) in the name of protecting his kids.
He’s conspiring to take Drew Cain (Cameron Mathison) down out of revenge. He’s still loyal to a fault to the rest of his family, but he’s not afraid to dive into the deep end with someone like Jacinda Bracken (Paige Herschell) either.
Truth be told, he’s not that different from his dear old dad. If we end up learning Michael did shoot Drew, he’ll look even more like him.
Who do you see taking up the mob mantle when Sonny dips out? Share your thoughts with us in the comments, and keep checking back for more GH news and spoilers every day.
if anyone let it be Michale he ran it before. no sonny don’t leave that show won’t work with out u… 1993 I have watched u as long as u have been on there.. an Jason.. not to many original people left.. things change.. but what ever u do good luck stay gealth