Days Of Our Lives Star Dan Feuerriegel Nearly Missed Out On EJ DiMera Role — Casting Director Reveals Surprising Story Behind The Recast

How Close Salem Came To A Completely Different EJ DiMera

Today, it’s nearly impossible for many Days of Our Lives viewers to imagine anyone other than Dan Feuerriegel portraying EJ DiMera.

Over the last several years, the Australian actor has transformed EJ into one of Salem’s most fascinating and unpredictable figures — a man equally capable of ruthless manipulation, passionate devotion, devastating revenge, and genuine vulnerability.

Whether he’s battling family rivals, protecting the people he loves, or navigating the endless chaos surrounding the DiMera dynasty, Feuerriegel has become deeply associated with one of daytime television’s most iconic characters.

But according to longtime Days of Our Lives casting director Marnie Saitta, things almost turned out very differently.

In a surprising behind-the-scenes revelation, Saitta recently shared that Feuerriegel was far from an instant choice for the role — and that it took multiple auditions, persistent advocacy, and a major leap of faith before Salem finally found its new EJ.

Recasting EJ Was One Of Salem’s Biggest Challenges

For any daytime drama, recasting a beloved character is never easy.

Recasting EJ DiMera? That’s an entirely different level of pressure.

The character has long been one of the cornerstones of the DiMera family legacy, a role made famous through years of unforgettable storylines involving romance, betrayal, revenge, family warfare, and corporate power struggles.

When the time came to bring EJ back to Salem, producers faced a difficult question.

How do you replace someone audiences already strongly associate with the character?

According to Saitta, the answer was not to find a copy.

Instead, the goal was to find someone capable of creating a fresh version of EJ while still honoring the character’s history.

Speaking during a SAG-AFTRA Foundation panel focused on casting daytime dramas, Saitta explained that her philosophy toward recasts has evolved significantly over the years.

Rather than searching for actors who mimic previous performances, she prefers to approach recast roles as entirely new creative opportunities.

A Different Approach To Recasting

“I approach a recast like I’m casting a new character,” Saitta explained.

That mindset became crucial when evaluating actors for EJ.

Instead of searching for someone who could replicate what came before, the casting team looked for an actor who could bring authenticity, confidence, and originality to the role.

One name continued resurfacing during that process.

Dan Feuerriegel.

According to Saitta, she repeatedly championed the actor long before he officially landed the part.

In fact, she revealed that she brought him in to audition multiple times over an extended period.

And not just for EJ.

The Actor Who Wouldn’t Leave The Casting Radar

Saitta recalled seeing something unique in Feuerriegel from the beginning.

Even when he auditioned for entirely different roles, she found herself returning to the same conclusion.

“He would be a really good EJ.”

Again and again.

She continued advocating for him whenever opportunities arose.

At one point, she joked that she had probably brought him in six separate times.

Each audition reinforced her belief that he possessed something special.

Not necessarily because he fit the traditional image of EJ.

But because he could reinvent the role.

That distinction ultimately proved critical.

The Moment Everything Finally Clicked

Despite Saitta’s confidence, the casting process wasn’t immediate.

EJ remained one of the show’s most important characters, and producers understandably wanted to make the right decision.

The role carried enormous expectations.

Fans were passionate.

Comparisons would be inevitable.

The pressure was immense.

Yet eventually, according to Saitta, something changed.

“It just clicked.”

That moment opened the door for Feuerriegel to officially step into Salem’s most powerful family.

And once he arrived, he quickly demonstrated why Saitta had fought so hard to get him there.

Creating A New Version Of EJ DiMera

Perhaps the biggest reason Feuerriegel’s portrayal succeeded was his willingness to avoid imitation.

Rather than attempting to recreate previous versions of EJ, he built something uniquely his own.

The result was an EJ who felt familiar yet completely refreshed.

His interpretation emphasized intelligence, emotional complexity, dark humor, and a simmering intensity that could explode at any moment.

One scene might show a devoted father.

The next could reveal a calculating strategist capable of orchestrating an elaborate scheme.

That unpredictability became one of the character’s greatest strengths.

According to Saitta, Feuerriegel brought an entirely different energy to the role.

Yet it proved every bit as effective.

Why Fans Ultimately Embraced The Recast

Recasts often face an uphill battle.

Audiences naturally compare new performers to beloved predecessors.

Sometimes those comparisons become impossible to overcome.

But Feuerriegel managed something rare.

Instead of competing with the past, he expanded the character’s future.

Over time, viewers stopped asking whether he matched earlier portrayals.

Instead, they became invested in his version of EJ.

The character evolved into a more layered figure — someone capable of genuine tenderness while remaining unmistakably dangerous.

Recent storylines involving Johnny, Chanel, Lexie, Theo, and the wider DiMera family have only strengthened Feuerriegel’s standing among fans.

His ability to balance emotional vulnerability with classic DiMera ruthlessness has become one of the defining elements of modern Days of Our Lives.

EJ’s Evolution Continues To Drive Salem Drama

Today, EJ remains at the center of many of Salem’s biggest stories.

Whether he’s navigating family crises, corporate battles, or controversial medical experiments involving Dr. Rolf, the character continues to generate headlines and fan discussion.

That ongoing relevance speaks volumes about the success of the recast.

Years after first stepping into the role, Feuerriegel has established himself as one of the show’s most important leading men.

And according to the very casting director who fought to get him hired, that success was never an accident.

It was the result of persistence, instinct, and recognizing potential long before everyone else saw it.

A Recast That Changed The Future Of Salem

Looking back now, it’s remarkable to consider how close Salem came to choosing a different path.

Had casting decisions gone another way, the modern version of EJ DiMera could look entirely different.

Instead, Marnie Saitta continued pushing for the actor she believed could redefine the role.

Eventually, the gamble paid off.

What began as a series of auditions became one of the most successful recasts in recent Days of Our Lives history.

For fans, Dan Feuerriegel is no longer simply playing EJ DiMera.

For many viewers, he has become EJ DiMera.

And judging by the character’s continued impact on Salem, that unlikely casting journey may have changed the future of the show forever.