For more than four decades, Susan Lucci didn’t just play Erica Kane — she defined her. As the glittering, polarizing, endlessly fascinating heart of All My Children,

Erica became one of the most iconic characters in television history, a cultural force whose influence extended far beyond the boundaries of daytime drama. Now, more than

a decade after AMC left the airwaves, Lucci is once again igniting speculation about Erica’s future — and this time, the conversation has expanded beyond Pine Valley to include General Hospital itself.

While promoting her upcoming memoir, La Lucci, set for release on February 3, the daytime legend reflected on her unparalleled career and the enduring power of soap operas. In doing so, she reopened a door fans have never truly closed: the possibility that Erica Kane could return — whether in a revival, a crossover, or an entirely new chapter.

Susan Lucci and the Legacy of Erica Kane

From 1970 to 2011, Susan Lucci portrayed Erica Kane for the entire 41-year run of All My Children. In an era when television characters rarely achieved mythic status, Erica became a phenomenon — bold, flawed, glamorous, and unapologetically ambitious. She was married more times than anyone could count, survived scandals that would have destroyed lesser characters, and remained at the center of the soap’s most unforgettable storylines.

When All My Children ended its ABC run in 2011, it marked more than the cancellation of a show; it signaled a turning point for the daytime genre itself. Yet even as soaps disappeared from network schedules, Erica Kane never faded from public consciousness. For Lucci, that connection has remained deeply personal — and potentially ongoing.

A Revival on the Horizon?

Earlier this month, excitement surged when Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos — both All My Children alums — revealed they are developing two AMC-inspired films for Lifetime through their production company, Milojo Productions. The announcement instantly reignited hope among longtime fans, and one question rose above all others: would Susan Lucci return as Erica Kane?

Lucci’s answer was measured, thoughtful — and tantalizingly open.

“I will always listen,” she said, before adding an important caveat. For Lucci, returning to Erica isn’t about nostalgia alone; it’s about trust, vision, and storytelling integrity. She emphasized the importance of knowing exactly who is behind the project, from the writers to the creative leads, and what the overall concept would be.

She spoke warmly of the late Agnes Nixon, All My Children’s creator, and longtime head writer Lorraine Broderick, crediting them with shaping Erica’s voice and depth. That legacy, Lucci made clear, is not something she would revisit lightly.

Still, her confidence in Ripa and Consuelos was unmistakable. Knowing them personally and professionally, Lucci expressed genuine enthusiasm about being “in great hands” if the project moves forward — a statement that fans have eagerly interpreted as a strong yes, pending final details.

Could Erica Kane Cross Over to General Hospital?

While the AMC films remain the most immediate possibility, speculation has also swirled around General Hospital after Erica Kane’s name was recently dropped on the ABC soap. The mention was brief but powerful enough to send longtime viewers into a frenzy of theories and wishful thinking.

Could Erica Kane exist in the General Hospital universe? Could Pine Valley and Port Charles finally collide in a way fans have dreamed about for years?

Lucci isn’t dismissing the idea outright — but she’s proceeding with caution.

“I don’t want to say never,” she explained, acknowledging both the fan enthusiasm and the quality of General Hospital as a series. At the same time, she made it clear that her priority is seeing whether the AMC film project with Ripa and Consuelos comes to fruition. For Lucci, returning to Erica in her original world — guided by people who understand her essence — would be ideal.

Still, her openness alone has fueled endless speculation. In a genre built on dramatic returns and unexpected crossovers, the idea of Erica Kane stepping into Port Charles feels less impossible than ever.

A Champion for the Soap Genre

Beyond Erica Kane, Lucci’s comments also touched on a broader issue close to her heart: the survival and revival of daytime television. Though All My Children ended years ago, Lucci remains deeply invested in the genre that shaped her career.

She recently praised the debut of Beyond the Gates, which premiered in February 2025, calling it a powerful reminder that audiences still crave serialized storytelling. For Lucci, the success of a new soap underscores what she believes was a mistake in allowing long-running shows like AMC to disappear.

“The audience loves the storytelling,” she noted, emphasizing how relatable, emotional, and human soap narratives can be. She applauded CBS for committing to a new daytime drama and singled out executive producer Julie Carruthers — a familiar and respected name from her own All My Children days — for her leadership.

Lucci’s enthusiasm wasn’t casual praise; it was a passionate defense of the genre. She spoke of the enduring need people have to see their lives reflected on screen, to follow long-form stories that unfold over years rather than hours.

Why Erica Kane Still Matters

More than a decade after her last on-screen appearance, Erica Kane remains one of the most recognizable figures in soap history. Her return wouldn’t just be a casting coup — it would be a symbolic moment for daytime television, signaling that legacy characters and longtime viewers still matter.

For General Hospital, a potential Erica Kane appearance would be seismic, bridging two iconic ABC soaps and honoring a shared history. For fans, it would be emotional validation — proof that the stories they invested in for decades are still alive.

And for Susan Lucci, any return would need to honor the character’s complexity, independence, and power. Erica Kane was never meant to be a footnote or a novelty cameo. She was, and remains, a leading lady.

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The Door Is Open — For Now

So, will Erica Kane return? For now, the answer is beautifully unresolved.

Susan Lucci is listening. The interest is there. The fans are waiting. Whether through All My Children films, a General Hospital crossover, or another unexpected avenue, the possibility exists — and that alone is enough to keep the soap world buzzing.

In daytime television, legends never truly disappear. Sometimes, they just wait for the right moment to walk back through the door — heels first, head high, and ready to remind everyone exactly who they are.