This one comes straight from the top, AMC viewers; Brian Scott Frons, Pres. of ABC Daytime, tells In Depth that the two fan favorites will be gone by June!
"The story of Bianca and Zoe originally was going to end earlier than late April. Things were working so well and Eden Riegel was so enjoying the story working with Jeffrey that they both agreed to extend their contracts," say Frons.
An AMC rep later confirmed the exits.
"So the scheduled departure date is the same as it always was, which I believe is late April, early May."
Frons doesn't say whether the two characters, who will grow closer as the spring continues, will leave as a happy couple. But he does insist that the end of Zoe's arc has no correlation to the recent departure of headwriter Megan McTavish, who created and championed the transgender character.
Before joining AMC, the classically trained Carlson was scheduled to appear as the title role in a Washington, DC, production of Hamlet this summer but told In Depth he hoped to stay on in this groundbreaking role. "Zoe's time will dwindle before then, before I go down there," he said. "I hope not for good!"
Riegel, who has returned to the show multiple times since departing in 2005, has previously expressed interest in auditioning for other projects and exploring stage work.