Christel Khalil Urges ‘Y&R’ Fans to Give the New Lily & Cane a Chance
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Days of our Lives‘ Billy Flynn [Chad DiMera] has joined The Young and the Restless as Cane Ashby, bringing a storyline shake-up that Christel Khalil, who plays Cane’s ex-wife, Lily Winters, is happy to embrace.
“I’ve been wanting to be used more, so it’s great to be working a lot more and have something to really sink my teeth into,” Khalil begins. “For a long time, it’s been mainly a business storyline, which has been really fun to play and work with Victor [Newman, Eric Braeden], but it’s nice to have that other layer of emotion and relationship and connection to play as well.”
Khalil reveals she had no idea Cane would be written back in until shortly before Flynn began taping. “Josh Griffith [executive producer and head writer] kept it a secret for a very long time,” she shares. “I didn’t realize they were bringing Cane back until a week or two before he started. I was super excited; it was such a great character, and it was a shame to not have the character there.”
Howard Wise/jpistudios.com
Although Khalil had never met Flynn, his reputation preceded him. “I heard great things from some of the other cast members who had either worked with him or knew people that worked with him,” she reports. “He’s such a great guy and great to work with.”
But this isn’t a simple “Lane” reunion, Khalil previews. Rather than revisiting the familiar dynamic between Lily and Cane, viewers should prepare for something entirely fresh. “I feel like the story is very compelling, and I think if fans can look at it with a new lens, they’ll really like it,” Khalil says. “I think the good thing that Josh has done is he’s completely changed the character of Cane.
“It doesn’t feel like we’re trying to have someone step in Daniel Goddard‘s [ex-Cane] shoes,” she continues. “It’s pretty much an entirely new character, so it’s been interesting to have scenes because we have the history there, but it’s a little bit different. They’ve also added in flashbacks that Lily has of interactions that she and Cane have had in the past, five or six years [since he’s been gone]. So, it’s almost a little bit of a new relationship again, in a way.”
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Needless to say, Cane’s surprise return will cause major upheaval for Lily. “It’s the first time in Lily’s life that she’s single, and she’s invested in working with Devon [Winters, Bryton James] and Nate [Hastings, Sean Dominic] and just really focused on business,” Khalil points out. “Her kids [twins Charlie and Mattie Ashby] are gone. She doesn’t have a guy in her life, and she’s been focusing on work. So having Cane come back, it’s like the ground kind of falls out from underneath her in a way.”
Which Lily doesn’t appreciate. After Cane reveals himself in France to be the mysterious Aristotle Dumas, “Well, clearly she’s upset,” notes Khalil. “The whole time she thought that this person [Dumas] was somebody else, so it’s a lot of being really upset, feeling betrayed, and feeling like, how could this person that she was married to and have kids with have been lying this whole time?”
Plus, there are other factors for Lily to take into consideration. “Even before Lily finds out Dumas is Cane, the main concern she has is that Dumas is coming after her company,” Khalil explains. “So, when she finds out it is Cane, I think that fear is still there because she hears from Victor and other people that Cane is kind of scheming, and no one really knows what he’s up to. So, she’s really worried. What’s Cane’s plan? Why is he back in Genoa City? What does he want from everybody? What’s he trying to accomplish? Clearly, he’s here for a reason, so I think right now, she’s just trying to figure out what Cane is doing.”
Howard Wise/jpistudios.com
What Lily is not looking for is to jump back into a relationship with him. “As of right now, no, absolutely not,” Khalil states. “She’s very disturbed by his behavior and how much he’s lied and kept secret and what he’s hidden from the kids and what he’s hidden from her, and the fact that she finds out he was working with his dad, Colin [Atkinson, Tristan Rogers], who is a very bad person. So right now, it’s very much like, ‘I want nothing to do with you. We’re never getting back together, especially after all of this. It’s never happening.’”
As this new chapter unfolds, Khalil urges fans to keep an open mind about the new “Lane” dynamic. “At the end of the day, it’s not going to be the same Cane,” she says. “It’s a completely different person, and I really hope that everybody gives Billy a chance and tries to look at the character through new eyes, because it is a new person, and honestly, it’s a new character. He’s nothing like Daniel Goddard, and that’s kind of the point. The point was to make this character something completely different. And so hopefully people give it a chance and look at it like a new relationship rather than like an old one coming back.”
For Khalil, having a meaty story 23 years into her Y&R run is a pleasant surprise, and one that she never expected. “It’s nice because I started as a kid when I was a teenager, and I was always only a part of the summer teen storyline,” she reflects. “I really thought that I was only going to be on the show for three years and did not anticipate still being there, but I’m so happy that I am. I love this job. I love the people that I work with. And it’s really amazing to be able to play the same character for this long, because the character really does kind of become you. There’s been so many different types of stories that I’ve gotten to play over the years, and it’s been really fun and amazing. I love it.”
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I believe Billy Flynn will do an amazing job. He's got the looks and the talent.However it will be up to Josh Griffith to write for this couple and not drop the ball. Actors can only do so much for a character.
34 3
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Josh Griffith cannot write. He has ruined the show and characters. You speak of Billy Flynn's "Looks and talent". Daniel Goddard had both as well.
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Flat storyline. Daniel Goddard is the real Cane.
34 5
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I like the new Cane
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I prefer Daniel Goddard.
37 8
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I agree They can't use the old footage of Cane & Lily not to mention Jill who was quite fond of Cane. He was like a son to her. Bring the original actor back in the Cane role or quickly write Cane out of the story.
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Nope. I want Daniel Goddard back. He could have handled the switch.
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Does anyone else think the new Cane looks like Chance? I think he will bring some fresh air to Y&R.
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They need to show Chance more & give him a storyline that's not just him helping or supporting other people.
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Chance's character is leaving Y&R or already gone...think he went to Days of Our Lives
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Yes he is actually taking over the role of Chad on Days of Our Lives.
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In a weirdo switch a roo the actor playing Chase has been cast in "Day of our lives" in the role Billy Flynn was previously portraying.
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The actor playing Chance currently on Y&R is replacing the current actor playing Cane in his old role as Chad on DOOL. Sounds unnecessary imo.
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No way
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Why didn't they just make Flynn a new character then? I liked Daniel's Cane, period. He was the Cane I liked & he's the Cane I wanted back every since he left. They didn't even mention the fact Lily had been getting close with Damian, like he doesn't matter at all. I like Jermaine Rivers on the show & I hope he sticks around even without Lily.
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I like Jermaine Rivers (Damian) as well. He is a great actor. I hope they give him a storyline worthy of his talent. I also liked Daniel Goddard. Not a fan of the NU-Cane!??
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What a joke and disappointment. All the build up for this wasn't worth the outcome
26 4
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I'm really excited about the new story line. 👍🏾
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I don't mind Billy Flynn becoming a member of the Y&R family, just don't give him a role that someone else put their heart and soul entirely into for years.
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Doesn't bother me that he doesn't have an accent.
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The accent was important because Cane was Australian. Being from Australia was a tie to his original storyline introduction. But it's not just his accent, it's his entire look, his demeanor & the fact that he had played that character originally & very well in a number of important storylines over a decade. He is the reason people liked Cane. He is 1/2 of the chemistry that Lane fans loved. Yes, Flynn may be liked by his fans but so is Daniel who played all those interesting stories as Cane. It is a big disappointment to a lot of Lane fans. It's similar to when Hunter Tylo stopped playing Taylor on B&B. No one ever has really filled her shoes & when people remember Taylor & Ridge she is always & forever Taylor. Ron Moss is forever her Ridge. The new actors are great but they are not the reason that couple was so popular. Everytime a new actor takes over a role that has been played by one actor for a long time, the dynamics change & it's not what helped endear them to their audience. When they change the age of the actor or the characters personality that's even worst.
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I guess Sam's away in boarding school? IDk, maybe he'll be like Christian mentioned but never seen.🙄
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I do not care because it's the Victor Newman Show! I stopped watching Y&R years ago. The storylines have become ridiculous, and now, if only I could convince my mom to stop recording it, because she fast forwards most of it.
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Same here, can't stand Veektor and I'm sick to death of having to have closed captioning turned on to understand his mumbling.
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Cane and Lily -- this looks more promising. Lily and Damian -- Yuk! Not at all interesting.....
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I just read that the actor now playing Chance on Y&R will be replacing Billy Flynn as Chad on DOOL. WTH? Why didn't they give Chance more story on Y & R ? He is a Chancellor & the current writing team should have made him a more important part of the GC Chancellor family business dynamics.
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I want Lilly and Cane to get back together. It called forgiveness. None of her other relationships have worked. Give Cane and chance.
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I miss the Australian accent!
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I like the opportunity for a new story direction and someone to challenge Victor.
So far it has accentuated the whininess of Lily and the "everyone is stupid if they don't do what I think they should" of Devon.
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Right now the story is so boring. Turn the heat up
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I thought the buildup was going to be much more than what it was. I was disappointed. Is Lily pregnant again? On the soaps.. pregnant women usually carry those big black purses to cover their bellies.
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I love the guy that's playing Cane now!...I think he'll do good. Who knows maybe him and Lily might get back together.
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Put them back together ❤️
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Horrible casting!
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I used to love Lily’s character up until Cane left. But once she got out of prison and took on the role of a “professional” business woman, she’s been nothing but angry and ugly. It’s difficult to watch. I look forward to seeing Billy Flynn on the show but I hope they don’t even try to reconcile.
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I think the whole storyline is an absolute mess. If you are using Canes’s name it would have been much more exciting and have a bigger impact if it was actually Daniel Goddard the true cane. This is one of the more silly things that Y&R has done. The storyline is absolutely boring. Characters walk around daily saying the exact same thing every day. Hard to watch. Dirty time I’ve actually wanted to just stop watching.
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This is such a stupid storyline. We knew about 2 or 3 weeks ago who Billy Flynn was coming in as Cane. So did Daddy help him swindle billions by being a fraud and a crook. Stupid is all I can say.
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I think Lily is pregnant in real life....
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I love the new Cane (Billy Flynn). Billy Flynn and Christel Khalil have great chemistry. I just hope Josh Griffith doesn't butcher the beautiful love affair between Cane and Lily. Unfortunately, It looks like he's heading that way. What a shame and useless writer.
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I absolutely love this new Cain. He brings a fresh and interesting dynamic to the young and the restless and I would like to see him and lilly reconcile. Honestly I would like to see more interracial couples on all of the soaps. Especially the young and the restless and the bold and the beautiful. I been watching both soaps with my grandma since I was a baby. Over 30 years now.
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I can’t say whether I do or I don’t like the new cane. Only time will tell so far the intrigue of the storyline has been a lot different than we’re used to the new cane is very easy on the eyes I don’t particularly care for how they have written Lily to be so unsensitive to the fact of Kane‘s father passing and being sick I get we have moments but at the end when people are dying, they like to make amends I’d like to see Lily have a softer side to that . I understand her guardedness to protect, but her children are grown, and they can make that decision , now it will be interesting if they put Kane back with Lily or they bring in someone new for Kane or maybe they already have maybe that’s what Amanda is. We get to see that revealed.
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What a joke and disappointment! All this build up for this wasn't worth the outcome....no chemistry between this new Cane and Lily. Lily and Damian have chemistry. What titans of industry would come to this place and go thru a maize and stay in gardens for hours with no cell reception?!
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Where is Sam?
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I personally wish they would have just created a new character. I don't mind that they have made him 'Cane,' really as much as now we're going to be subjected to Lily's sanctimonious whining. I find her holier than though attitude very annoying. My least favorite actor and now she's going to be on all the time...argh!
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The powers that be put a good actor in an impossible situation by replacing a fan Fav with a completely different actor in the role. You can't use all the old clips of Lily & Came. They had a happy marriage with children...All that. This new Cane should have just been a new character. There is zero chemistry between Lily and new Cane.
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Christel Khalil seems to be quite excited about the new Cane. If she’s pleased, why shouldn’t we be? This whole scenario is just beginning!! How does one decide that there is no chemistry between them? 😳
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I heard Ray Salazar is coming back.That Cane is playing his part until he comes to surprise everybody.
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Billy is a great actor but Y&R did us wrong! Daniel Goddard should have been brought back to reprise his role. He had so much chemistry with everyone he worked with. Billy would have served better as a new mysterious character. Y&R is doing like it's sister soap Bold and Beautiful, messing up the show and not giving 2 pig's oink,oink about the fans wants.
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Actors change all the time on soaps. Most cases you get used to them and like the new actor. Daniel Goddard isn't available he is on another soap.Give Billy a chance.
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What in the world does Christel Khalil mean when she says, "This is an entirely NEW CHARACTER"???? This is NOT a new character. This is Cane Ashby. There is only one who played him so well: Daniel Goddard. Christel may have forgotten, not long time viewers!
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Hate Lilly….Cane is great
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I'm not excited about the new Cane. Why didnt they recast Daniel. Ive only watched two episodes with Billy but not comfortable with his character/ portray of Cane.
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They don't want Lily to have nothing good because she considered as BLK
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