'Days of Our Lives' Will Be Back for Its 56th Season as NBC Renews the Daytime Soap

Sands will officially keep going through the hourglass, as NBC renewed its 57-time Emmy-winning daytime serial "Days of our Lives" for its 56th season.

The news came on Wednesday that NBC's longest-running series will remain on television screens for at least another season.

Ken Corday, the show's executive producer, reportedly said that they are "excited" to continue giving their "loyal family of fans" riveting stories into the new decade.

The soap's opening phrase voiced by the late actor Macdonald Carey, "like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives," became well-known over the years.

Not surprising, as it impressively aired almost every weekday since it's debut on November 8, 1965. Set in the fictional town of Salem, the soap follows the lives of the middle-class Bradys, the upper-class Hortons, and the dynastic DiMeras.

Longtime cast members include Eileen Davidson, Jennifer Aniston's father John, Susan Seaforth Hayes, and Suzanne Rogers.

Before NBC and Sony Pictures Television decided to renew the series, TVLine reported that the producers released the entire cast from their contracts.

According to a Sony source that spoke with the publication, the cast contracts are handled through Corday Productions, the soap's production company, and the studio is in no way involved in contract negotiations.

The source called it a "shrewd business move," because, in the event of the renewal of the series, they can offer the actors contracts at reduced rates.

The soap's episodes are filmed eight months in advance, so even though production on the new season is expected to resume in March, the previous season is set to last through Summer 2020.

Sadly, the series lost one of their own when the soap opera actress, Marj Dusay, passed away on January 28 at the age of 83.

Marj became known as Vivian Alamain on "Days of Our Lives" from 1992 until 1993, and she also later starred in "All My Children" before moving on to the series "Guiding Light."

In "Guiding Light," Marj played the role of Alexandra Spaulding for sixteen years until 2009, and she received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for her role in 1995.

While soap opera fans mourned the loss of Marj, everyone involved with "Days of Our Lives" particularly felt the loss of John Clarke last year.

The actor passed away in October, and he played the role of Mickey Horton on the daytime soap for 39 years from 1965 until 2004.