In the world of daytime television, few names carry as much weight as Bell. For decades, Lauralee Bell has been synonymous with The Young and the Restless, portraying the resilient Christine Blair. However, as the sun sets on Christine’s most recent major arc—the highly anticipated dream wedding to Danny Romalotti—Bell is proving that her creative fire burns just as brightly behind the camera as it does in front of it. In a move that feels like a natural evolution of her family’s legendary legacy, Bell is officially stepping into “boss mode,” developing a brand-new prime-time soap opera that aims to recapture the high-stakes glamour of the genre’s golden age.

This new venture is far from a tentative first step. Bell, an Emmy winner for her 2013 short-form drama mI promise, is collaborating with another daytime icon, As the World Turns alum Martha Burn. Together, they are crafting a project that Bell describes as a full-throttle prime-time soap, explicitly citing the opulent and dramatic “vibe” of Dynasty as a primary inspiration. In an industry that often fluctuates between quiet stagnation and sudden bursts of activity, Bell reveals that the project is currently generating significant interest from production companies, marking it as a “happening thing” rather than mere industry chatter.

What drives Bell’s vision is a palpable nostalgia for “old school” television—the kind that demanded a weekly emotional investment from its audience. Reflecting on modern viewing habits, Bell noted the “agony” of waiting for episodes, a sentiment she rediscovered while watching contemporary hits with her daughter. It is this specific brand of anticipation and narrative tension that she hopes to inject into her new production, bridging the gap between classic soap operatics and modern prime-time sensibilities.

While her focus is currently split between acting and producing, Bell hasn’t closed the door on other facets of the medium. When asked about the possibility of directing episodes for the shows her parents, William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell, famously created—The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful—she offered a tantalizing “never say never.” While she is not currently racing toward the director’s chair for daytime, she expressed profound admiration for colleagues like Heather Tom and Elizabeth Hendrickson, who have successfully transitioned into powerhouse behind-the-scenes roles.

For now, fans can rest assured that Bell remains committed to her on-screen presence, expressing joy at the opportunity to continue telling Christine’s story. Yet, it is clear that she is no longer content to stay in one lane. With her deep-rooted connections, a proven track record as a writer and executive producer, and a hereditary instinct for serialized drama, Lauralee Bell is poised to remind the television world why the Bell name remains the gold standard of the soap opera genre. As the industry awaits the formal pickup of her new project, one thing is certain: the next chapter of Bell’s career is set to be just as dramatic as anything seen on the cobbles of Genoa City.