General Hospital Hunk Wants To Stay Forever, But I'm Worried About His Status

General Hospitalhunk Josh Kelly has been playing Cody Bell since 2022, but his recent change from a contract player to recurring status has me concerned about his character’s future, even though he says that he wants to stay on the show forever. Kelly made a literal splash when he debuted as Cody, parachuting into the Metro Court pool, and knocking Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud) in with him.

Cody was later revealed to be the son of Mac Scorpio (John J. York) and Dominique Stanton (Shell Danielson). He’s also Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna) andBrook Lynn Quartermaine’s (Amanda Setton)childhood friend. When Cody and Sasha Gilmore (Sofia Mattson) began a romance after he helped her escape from Ferncliff, they were devastated to learn that they were actually cousins.

General Hospital’s Josh Kelly As Cody Bell Looking Content

Cody also has a connection to the Quartermaine family because he has a close friendship with Tracy (Jane Elliot) as he works in the family’s stables. Most recently, Kristina Corinthos-Davis (Kate Mansi) hired him to seduce Ava Jerome (Maura West). However, Cody has also been developing feelings for Kristina’s sister, Molly Lansing-Davis (Kristen Vaganos).

With all of these connections tomajorGeneral Hospitalcharacters and families, I thought that Cody was being set up to be one of the show’s leading men. However, I was shocked to learn that he was recently dropped from contract to recurring status on the show. Although Kelly insists that he wants to stay onGeneral Hospitalforever, I’m concerned that Cody could be written out sooner rather than later.

General Hospital’s Josh Kelly As Cody Bell Smiling

It Was Josh Kelly’s Decision To Go On Recurring Status

Kelly Wanted To Be Free To Pursue Other Projects

Although Kelly’sGeneral Hospitalcontract change concerns me, I was relieved to hear that he was dropped to recurring status by his own request. In an interview withSoap Opera Digest, Kelly revealed that, although he made the decision to go off-contract, he doesn’t want to leave the show permanently. He said,“I want to stay on General Hospital forever!”

Kelly chose to drop to recurring status because he wanted to be able to work on other projects, including a movie that he’ll be making and shooting for two months with his real-life girlfriend,formerGeneral HospitalactressChloe Lanier (Nelle). Kelly’s also working on shooting the sequel to a movie that he has coming out this summer,The Workout.

Kelly explained,“I just wouldn’t be able to do that if I was on contract; you don’t just get to go off and do a bunch of other projects. And I wouldn’t expect the show to work around my schedule.“He shared that executive producer Frank Valentini"bent over backwards"to accommodate him when he was filmingThe Workout,“and I am so appreciative of him.”

Kelly continued,“But some days, I would have to work at night on the movie and then come in and work on GH during the day, and sometimes I felt like I was letting one project down. And I don’t want to let this show down at all.”

Although Kelly requested to move to recurring status, he made sure that everyone atGeneral Hospitalknew that he had no intention of leaving the show for good. He said,“I told them pretty much what I’m telling you, which is that I would like to stay forever. I love being here. I love everyone that I’m working with on the show. I was just looking to have a little more flexibility.”

The Actor & Character Deserve More Than What They Get

Although Kelly has the acting chops and the looks to beaGeneral Hospitalleading man, I’ve always been disappointed that Cody has never been portrayed that way. He’s usually a secondary character in storylines or even used as comic relief. When Cody rescued Sasha from Ferncliff, he proved himself to be a hero, but then he regressed again after his relationship with her ended.

I always feel that Cody is written as much younger than he actually is, constantly getting into trouble and fights, when he should be portrayed as a strong leading man. However, Kelly is content with his current storyline, and working with Mansi, Vaganos, and West.

Kelly said,“I really think this is the hardest and best acting gymnasium in the world. I really love what I’m doing on the show now, and I feel like I’m on a really good vibe with everyone. The story is fun and interesting, and I’m really excited to continue with it.”

Kelly also joked that he won’t exitGeneral Hospitaluntil one of his dreams for Cody is fulfilled. He laughed,“I will not leave the show until they allow Cody to date Tracy!”

Although it’s great to hear that Kelly is satisfied with his currentGeneral Hospitalstoryline, I believe that he and Cody deserve better. However, his switch to recurring status will now prevent him from having a more in-depth storyline. I worry that Kelly will continue to pursue outside acting jobs until he finally leaves the show, or theGeneral Hospitalproducers let him go.

I really like Cody, but all of his stories seem to hit dead ends. The reveal of him being Mac’s son has been truly inconsequential, and his romance with Sasha was destroyed. In addition, no good can come of his current scheme to seduce Ava, especially because he’s developing feelings for Molly.

While I’m excited to seehow Cody reacts to Britt being alive, I know that her return story is all about her reunion with Jason Morgan (Steve Burton). Therefore, it seems that Cody will continue in the Molly/Ava storyline instead. I’m concerned that the show is writing Cody into a corner, and that Kelly will eventually decide to leaveGeneral Hospitalfor good.