Fans have been buzzing about Josh Kelly‘s status with General Hospital since they noticed that his name was no longer listed with the on-contract cast members in the closing credits. The question on viewers’ minds: Does his shift from contract to recurring mean that Kelly, who first joined the Port Charles ranks as Cody Bell in 2022, will be exiting GH? Soap Opera Digest got the answer from the actor himself.

For Whom The Bell Tolls

Kelly tells Digest that it was his decision to go off-contract — a decision that does not reflect his commitment to the show. “I want to stay on General Hospital forever!” he enthuses.

What did bring about his choice was his desire to be available for the other projects on his plate, one of which involves his real-life girlfriend, GH alum Chloe Lanier (ex-Nelle). “Chloe and I are making a movie that we’re planning on shooting for two months,” he explains. “We’re also trying to shoot the sequel to the movie that I have coming out this summer, The Workout. 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.”

The actor notes that he wouldn’t have been able to film The Workout without the generous efforts made by his GH boss, Executive Producer Frank Valentini, to accommodate his schedule. “Frank bent over backwards to make it work and I am so appreciative of him,” Kelly says. “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.”

So, when he approached the show about shifting to recurring, “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.” 

He is delighted that the show has made the new arrangement work — and keeping Kelly plenty busy with a juicy new storyline in which, just as sparks began to fly between Cody and Molly, Cody was hired by her sister, Kristina, to begin keeping company with Kristina’s blackmailer, Ava, who just so happens to be the paramour of Molly’s dad, Ric.

Kelly is having a blast working with Kristen Vaganos (Molly), Maura West (Ava) and Kate Mansi (Kristina) and feels like both he and the show have hit its creative stride where Cody is concerned. “I really think this is the hardest and best acting gymnasium in the world,” he smiles. “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.”

But for the record, he’s still holding out hope that Cody will eventually get his turn in the romantic sun with his trusted pal and confidante, Tracy, played by Jane Elliot. In fact, Kelly teases, “I will not leave the show until they allow Cody to date Tracy [laughs]!”