One Tree Hill is officially returning to the screen as a sequel on Netflix – and original stars Sophia Bush and Hilarie Burton are set to reprise their roles.
The Good Sam actress, 42 – who recently showed off iconic throwback outfits from the show – will step back into the shoes of her character, Brooke Davis, while Burton, also 42, will return as Peyton Sawyer.
Danneel Ackles – who portrayed Rachel Gatina on the series – is slated to executive produce the reboot under her proudction company with husband Jensen Ackles called Chaos Machine, per Variety.
She is also in talks to possibly reprise her role, but it is not known if other original cast members will also appear in the sequel, such as Chad Michael Murray and James Lafferty.
Sophia and Hilarie will also be executive producers for the One Tree Hill sequel. The reboot is in its early production stages, and a set release date has yet to be confirmed.
One Tree Hill is officially returning to the screen as a sequel on Netflix – and original stars Sophia Bush, 42, and Hilarie Burton, 42, are set to reprise their roles; seen in March in NYC
The premise ‘takes place 20 years later following best friends Brooke and Peyton who are now parents to teens and facing challenges not unfamiliar to what they tackled in the original series like love, insecurities and grief,’ per Deadline.
The showrunner of the original series, Mark Schwahn, reportedly has no attachment to the reboot.
In 2017, one of the writers from the show, Audrey Wauchope, accused Schwahn of sexual harassment and emotional abuse.
Sophia, Hilarie and Bethany Joy Lenz supported Audrey’s claims, along with other actresses, female writers and crew that had worked on One Tree Hill.
Back in 2021, Bush claimed that he had hung photos of the female cast members in their underwear in his office.
On Friday, Bush jumped to her main Instagram page and seemingly confirmed the return of the show on Netflix.
The star – who came out as queer earlier this year in April – uploaded a photo as she flashed a cheerful smile alongside Burton, Ackles and also Bevin Prince, who played the recurring role of Bevin Mirskey.
Sophia typed out to her followers, ‘What if you really can go back home? If there’s an opportunity to team with brilliant creatives and build a space where all our friends can show off their talents?’
The Good Sam actress – who recently showed off iconic throwback outfits from the show – will step back into the shoes of her character, Brooke Davis, while Burton will return as Peyton Sawyer
Sophia and Hilarie will also be executive producers for the One Tree Hill sequel. The reboot is in its early production stages, and a set release date has yet to be confirmed
‘Own our history? Reclaim our turf? Honor our fans? Sign us up,’ the actress further wrote in the caption.
She then gave a shout out to fans of the show, and added, ‘There’s only one Tree Hill, after all. And you – the #OTHfam – have shown us that it’s not just an idea. It really is the place where “everything’s better and everything’s safe.”‘
Social media users jumped to the comment section to share their thoughts on the Netflix reboot.
One penned, ‘THIS IS AMAZING! SO SO SO EXCITED FOR THE FUTURE,’ while another added, ‘You’re gonna heal the world with this. IM SO EXCITED!’
‘I’m screaming, crying. My favorite show returning is EVERYTHING ❤️❤️❤️,’ a fan shared, while one wrote, ‘This is the best news of the year!!!’
Hilarie uploaded the same image to her own Instagram page along with a matching caption, also teasing the reboot.
Other former cast members have voiced their opinions on a possible sequel in the past, such as Chad Michael Murray – who played the role of Lucas Scott.
Earlier this year in May during an appearance on the Today show, the actor stated that reboot could, ‘deal with all the trials and tribulations that the youth are going through today.’
On Friday, Bush jumped to her main Instagram page and seemingly confirmed the return of the show on Netflix
Sophia typed out to her followers, ‘What if you really can go back home? If there’s an opportunity to team with brilliant creatives and build a space where all our friends can show off their talents?’
‘Dealing with social media, discrimination, and everything else that’s out there in the world that we could bring to light.’
The Gilmore Girls alum added, ‘I’m meeting 13, 14,15-year-old fans who are enamored by the show. They weren’t alive when we started shooting. It blows my mind. It’s a new show to them.’
And late last year in December, he expressed to E! News about a sequel, ‘I just can’t see a world where something won’t happen.’
‘Something will happen. Whether we get everybody together and do a live reading of the show, or we create a new fictional future episode, I don’t know what it will be.’
Murray continued, ‘This show has changed and shaped so many young people’s lives. There’s a place for it for today’s cultural shifts and the things that need to be addressed.’
‘I think it’s time that we do a new generation of the show for today’s use for the issues that they’re dealing with every day, from social media to racial injustice to LGBT community to everything that’s out there.’
Last year in September 2023, the show celebrated its 20th anniversary, with some cast members ringing in the special milestone
Chad added, ‘So people can feel like they belong and that they are loved. That’s what we need.’
One Tree Hill had a total of nine seasons, and began airing on WB in September 2003. The show eventually jumped to the CW to air the remaining seasons from 2006 through 2012.
Other stars that had been cast in the original series included Bethany Joy Lenz, Paul Johansson, Barry Corbin and also Moira Kelly.
Last year in September 2023, the show celebrated its 20th anniversary, with some cast members ringing in the special milestone. Later that same year, stars reunited on the original set to also celebrate the anniversary.