Salem is no stranger to chaos, but a looming casting shakeup tied to one of Days of Our Lives’ most talked-about romances is sending shockwaves through the fanbase.

As Leo Stark and Javi Hernandez inch closer to what should be a joyous wedding, behind-the-scenes changes threaten to upend everything viewers think they know about the couple’s future.

At the center of the storm is the quiet but seismic exit of actor Al Calderon—and the growing evidence that a new face is preparing to step into Javi’s shoes.

For months, rumors have swirled around the Hernandez family, a cornerstone of modern Days storytelling. Javi Hernandez, in particular, has emerged as a pivotal figure—grounded, empathetic, and strong enough to stand beside the combustible force that is Leo Stark. When news first broke earlier this year that Calderon would be exiting the role, fans were stunned. What began as a short-term arc had evolved into a fully realized character, thanks in no small part to Calderon’s nuanced performance.

Sharing the screen with Leo Stark is no easy feat. The character is flamboyant, volatile, and endlessly magnetic, often threatening to eclipse anyone orbiting him. Yet Calderon’s Javi managed to hold his own, offering a calm counterbalance to Leo’s scheming energy. Their dynamic—equal parts tenderness and tension—became one of the show’s most compelling relationships, making the exit announcement feel less like routine soap turnover and more like a genuine loss.

The question that immediately followed was inevitable: who could possibly replace him?

While Peacock and Corday Productions have yet to issue an official announcement, Salem’s most reliable rumor mill—social media—has been working overtime. All signs now point to actor Jacob Martinez as the likely new Javi Hernandez, and the clues are hard to ignore.

The first major hint surfaced at the Days of Our Lives cast Christmas party, an event infamous among fans for unintentionally revealing future storylines. Martinez wasn’t just a background guest; he appeared prominently in photos, tagged alongside longtime cast members, and looked entirely at ease among contract players. In the world of soaps, that level of visibility is rarely accidental. Unknown actors don’t simply wander into company holiday events and mingle freely unless they’re about to become part of the family.

The evidence grew stronger with a closer look at Martinez’s social media activity. His following list reads like a Hernandez family roll call: Greg Rikaart (Leo Stark), Cherie Jimenez (Gabi Hernandez), and Galen Gering (Rafe Hernandez). In daytime television, these digital breadcrumbs often precede official announcements. Following one co-star might be coincidence; following an entire family unit and a primary romantic scene partner feels deliberate. To many fans, it’s the closest thing to confirmation without a press release.

Visually, the potential recast appears carefully considered. Martinez bears a strong resemblance to Calderon, sharing similar features and an understated charisma that feels consistent with Javi’s established presence. In a medium where viewers form daily emotional connections with characters, physical continuity matters. A seamless visual transition allows the audience to stay immersed in the story rather than jolted out of it by a drastic change.

But appearance is only part of the equation. The real test will be how Martinez reshapes Javi’s emotional core. Calderon’s portrayal carried a quiet weariness—a sense that Javi knew loving Leo meant inviting chaos into his life but choosing that risk anyway. Insiders and fans alike speculate that the recast could signal an evolution rather than a duplication. Soap history suggests that new actors often arrive with subtle character recalibrations: more backbone, sharper edges, or secrets waiting to surface.

That possibility couldn’t come at a more volatile time. Leo and Javi’s wedding has been positioned as a major event, yet Days of Our Lives rarely delivers nuptials without devastation. With Leo involved, disaster feels almost guaranteed. He is a character driven by insecurity beneath bravado, someone who often sabotages happiness before it can slip away. A wedding shock—whether betrayal, revelation, or tragedy—could provide the perfect narrative bridge between Calderon’s exit and Martinez’s eventual debut.

What complicates matters further is the timeline. Reports suggest Calderon has already filmed episodes that will keep his version of Javi on screen until mid-2026. For a show already known for its long production lead time, this is extraordinary. If accurate, it means viewers will be watching Calderon’s performances for years while knowing a recast is inevitable. It creates a strange duality—investing in emotional arcs that feel both immediate and temporary.

This extended runway opens the door to several storytelling possibilities. The wedding disaster could serve as a turning point that sends Javi off-screen—perhaps in disgrace, heartbreak, or physical danger—only for him to return later transformed. Classic soap tropes loom large: accidents, comas, disappearances, or reinventions that justify a new face and a new emotional trajectory. When Javi re-emerges, he may not be the same man Leo once loved.

For Leo, the impact could be devastating. His fragile sense of self-worth is tightly bound to his relationships, and losing Javi—emotionally or physically—could send him spiraling. Greg Rikaart’s portrayal thrives on such emotional upheaval, and the eventual chemistry between Leo and a recast Javi will be closely scrutinized. Will sparks fly anew, or will the change fracture the relationship beyond repair?

Until that future arrives, fans can expect Calderon to continue carrying significant story weight. His remaining episodes will likely deepen the emotional stakes, making any eventual exit even more painful. And looming over it all is the promise of a wedding that seems destined to implode.

Whether Jacob Martinez is officially confirmed or not, the signs suggest Salem is preparing for a transition that will reshape one of its most compelling couples. The Hernandez family stands on the brink of upheaval, Leo’s dreams of stability hang by a thread, and Days of Our Lives once again proves that in Salem, even love stories come with an expiration date.