Hunter King and Michael Mealor Open Up About Their Y&R Return!

This week on THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS, Victoria and Ashland prepare to tie the knot in Tuscany in front of several loved ones who have traveled from Genoa City to Europe for the lavish ceremony. But there are two wedding guests who only had to travel from Milan to get to the Newman Palazzo in the idyllic Italian countryside: Summer and Kyle! The drama-filled wedding briefly brings Hunter King (Summer) and Michael Mealor (Kyle) back to Y&R starting with the Oct. 12 episode.

After contract renegotiations stalled between both actors and the soap last spring, they were written out by the end of August as Summer and Kyle reunited and moved to Italy. But shortly after King and Mealor made their final appearance together came word that the pair was already back on the soap’s set to tape scenes that would air over several days in October. And as the Y&R promo for the #WedLock nuptials confirms, newlyweds Summer and Kyle are greeted warmly by their family when they arrive at the villa for Victoria and Ashland’s grand celebration.

In an interview with Soap Opera Digest, King and Mealor shared that they were thrilled to reprise their roles for the return visit. “It’s like going back to high school after summer break,” Mealor shared. “You walk in and it’s nothing but fun and joy and happiness because it’s like coming home.” Added King, “The days have gone by so slowly since I was last there but as soon as I stepped into that building, it felt like yesterday.”

Getting to reconnect with so many of their Y&R co-stars at once was a bonus for both actors. “I know they’re long and exhausting for everyone involved,” King said of group scenes, “but I think they’re so much fun because you get to work with people who you usually don’t get to work with. I kept saying all day long that I was getting paid for just hanging out with my friends. It was a blast for me.” Echoing King’s sentiments, Mealor said, “If I’m going to be there, I want to see everybody, so it was really fun that it was for a wedding.”

And both actors agreed that they are open to making more return visits in the future. “I’m not sure exactly what the future holds and how often I’ll be back, and how often they want me to come back, but I’m always open to coming back,” confirmed King. Added Mealor, “It’s just so much fun to go and act with these people again, so of course I’ll always be back when they call.”

Tune in to Y&R this week to see the romantic — and drama-filled! — wedding episodes!