Days of Our Lives will soon face another head writer change as Ryan Quan has been tapped to replace Paula Cwikly as co-head writer.
Key Highlights
- Ryan Quan will take the reins from Paula Cwikly as co-head writer
- Quan worked closely with former DOOL head writer, Ron Carlivati
- Co-head writers Paula Cwikly and Jeanne Marie Ford focused on core family dynamics in Salem
- Quan wants the show to be more fun, with more mystery, adventure, and romance
Ryan Quan Will Take Over for Paula Cwikly in July 2026
Quan will be taking over for Cwikly in July, which means his new material won’t be seen until May 2027, considering DOOL films ten months in advance, with scripts written even sooner than that.
He will be penning DOOL. Meanwhile, Cwikly will be transitioned to a consultant role, while Jeanne Marie Ford will remain as co-head writer.
Quan taking over is good news for the Peacock soap, as Quan knows the history of DOOL like the back of his hand. He was previously co-head writer from 2016 to 2017, alongside Dena Higley.
Quan also worked closely with former head writer for DOOL, Ron Carlivati. When Carlivati was let go, Quan left DOOL to serve as breakdown writer for General Hospital.
DOOL fans were unhappy with some of Carlivati’s decisions, namely the soap within a soap, Body and Soul, which, personally, I loved because it affectionately poked fun at the soap genre.
Body and Soul was like a wink-and-a-nod to the audience, humorous and a breath of fresh air. So, when Carlivati was fired, Paula Cwikly and Jeanne Marie Ford were hired as co-head writers.
With Ford and Cwikly as co-head writers, they wrote some hugely impactful storylines. They penned the high-stakes resolution to the “Who Shot EJ DiMera” mystery.
It was their idea to make ten-year-old Rachel Black (then Alice Halsey), EJ’s niece, the shooter. It was a brilliant twist and ultimately made perfect sense.
The co-head writers also crafted John Black’s (Drake Hogestyn) farewell. It was a heroic and deeply emotional storyline.
Paula Cwikly and Jeanne Marie Ford Focused More on Core Family Dynamics in Salem
The storyline honored the late Drake Hogestyn, who passed away in September 2024 from pancreatic cancer, as well as John Black’s heroic and decades-long legacy on DOOL. ‘
It also gave the actors a unique and rare opportunity to say their on-screen heartfelt good-byes to the beloved actor.
The scribes also focused more on core family dynamics in Salem, including the Hortons, the Bradys, the DiMeras, and the Kiriakises.
Some DOOL fans have been disappointed with the show’s recent creative direction, and we have to wonder if that was part of the decision.
Under Quan’s new leadership, he will create a major shift and bring fresh energy to the show. It was reported that Cwikly has opted to step down as co-head writer, which played a role in the writer switch.
Quan told Soap Opera Digest,
“I just want to make the show feel like the show I grew up watching that had a mix of mystery and adventure and romance and fun.”
It’s interesting to see Quan leave his role at General Hospital for DOOL. Quan is a very experienced and talented writer and really knows his stuff.
His knowledge of Salem is comprehensive, extensive, and very strong. We have a feeling DOOL fans will be happy with his work.
In a statement for DOOL, executive producer Ken Corday said,
“We are lucky to have Ryan back in the fold. There are very few people who have such a deep knowledge and understanding of our show’s history. Stay tuned!”
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