There has been a lot of speculation among General Hospital fans recently about whether the character of Elizabeth Webber, played by Rebecca Herbst, will be leaving the show. Elizabeth has been a core character on GH since 1997, so her potential exit would be a huge deal for long-time viewers.
What is fueling the rumors about Elizabeth leaving GH?
There are a few key factors that have led to rumors that Elizabeth’s time in Port Charles may be coming to an end:
- Rebecca Herbst’s contract status is unknown – Her current deal with the show expired recently and there’s been no confirmation yet from the network or Herbst herself that she has re-signed.
- Lack of major storyline – Elizabeth has been backburnered in recent months without any frontburner plots centering on her character.
- History of characters being written off – GH has a long track record of writing out veteran characters like Elizabeth once their story options appear limited.
With no information on Herbst’s contract and her character not heavily involved in any major arcs, some think the writers could be phasing Elizabeth out.
What is Rebecca Herbst saying about the speculation?
As of now, Herbst has not directly addressed the rumors that she may be departing GH. The actress is typically pretty private and doesn’t often comment on the status of her role.
That said, Herbst remains active on social media posting about the show, which indicates she is still very much a part of the GH cast at this point.
Are there any signs Elizabeth is being written off?
Beyond Herbst’s contract situation being up in the air, there aren’t too many obvious indications within the show itself that Elizabeth is being written off:
- No major farewell storyline – Elizabeth hasn’t had any emotional goodbyes with other characters.
- No major life changes – Elizabeth’s life has remained relatively stable without any huge shifts.
- Still has connections on the canvas – She still has ties to characters like the Webber family, Finn, and her sons.
Based on her current utilization, there are no clear signs the writers are setting the stage for Elizabeth to exit Port Charles at this immediate moment.
How could Elizabeth be written off if Rebecca Herbst exits?
If Herbst does decide to leave GH, there are a few potential ways the writers could write out Elizabeth:
- Kill her off – A dramatic death, likely with Elizabeth sacrificing herself for someone else, would be one option.
- Send her away – Elizabeth could get an irresistible job offer somewhere else that takes her away from Port Charles.
- Mental health storyline – Her PTSD could force her into extensive treatment off-canvas.
They would need to provide something definitive to facilitate a permanent exit while also keeping the character heroic.
What would GH look like without Elizabeth?
| Impact | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Loss of legacy character | Elizabeth has 25+ years of history dating back to Lucky Spencer storylines. |
| Webber family impact | Removes a key Webber family member with longtime ties to Steve, Sarah, etc. |
| Shift in character dynamics | Major changes in Elizabeth’s relationships with Finn, Franco, her sons, etc. |
| Hospital staffing changes | The nursing staff would be down a veteran member. |
Losing Elizabeth would significantly impact GH’s legacy cast, Webber family dynamic, hospital staff, and her many relationships developed over 25 years on the canvas.
Could Elizabeth be recast if Rebecca Herbst leaves?
If Herbst chose to leave her role, GH could opt to recast Elizabeth with a new actress instead of writing the character out. This has occurred before, most notably with Laura Wright taking over as Carly years back.
However, recasting such an iconic role and establishing a new Elizabeth would be very difficult for the writers and likely not go over well with invested GH viewers.
When will there be an update on Rebecca Herbst’s GH status?
Unfortunately, there likely won’t be concrete updates on Herbst’s future with the show until one of the following occurs:
- She announces a contract extension
- GH announces she is departing
- Her status becomes obviously clear based on her airtime and storyline involvement over the next few months
Until one of those scenarios plays out, fans will likely remain in the dark despite continued speculation.
Could this all be a contract negotiation tactic?
It’s very possible that uncertainty around Herbst and Elizabeth’s future on the show could relate to ongoing contract talks. Planting rumors that an actor may exit can sometimes be a strategy to help them gain negotiating leverage.
The past year has seen major exits like Steve Burton and Ingo Rademacher depart after reportedly rejecting vaccine mandates. So it’s plausible talks between Herbst’s team and GH have hit some snags, prompting gossip she also may not return.
Negotiation tactics certainly could be a factor, but ultimately Elizabeth’s fate does seem closely tied to whatever decision Herbst makes about re-signing her deal.
Conclusion
The rumor mill is spinning with talk that Elizabeth Webber may soon be leaving General Hospital given Rebecca Herbst’s contract expiring. While concerning for fans, concrete evidence is lacking so far that Herbst is ready to exit or that the writers are preparing an endgame for the character.
There are plausible scenarios where Elizabeth could be written off the canvas if Herbst walks away. But it’s also very possible this is just a contract negotiation ploy that will ultimately end with the actress re-signing.
GH viewers will be anxiously watching in the months ahead for a clear indication on whether Port Charles is losing Elizabeth Webber and Rebecca Herbst after her 25-year run with the show.