One Tree Hill is officially returning to screens as a sequel on Netflix — and original stars Sophia Bush and Hilarie Burton are reprising their roles.
The 42-year-old Good Sam actress, who recently showed off iconic retro outfits from the series, will reprise her role as Brooke Davis, while Burton, also 42, returns as Peyton Sawyer.
Danneel Ackles, who played Rachel Gatina on the series, is expected to produce the reboot under her own production company with husband Jensen Ackles, called Chaos Machine, according to Variety.
She is also in talks to reprise her role, but it is unknown if other original cast members will appear in the sequel, such as Chad Michael Murray and James Lafferty.
Sophia and Hilarie will also serve as executive producers on the One Tree Hill sequel. The reboot is in early production, and a firm release date has not yet been confirmed.
One Tree Hill is officially returning to screens as a Netflix sequel — and original stars Sophia Bush, 42, and Hilarie Burton, 42, will reprise their roles; hits NYC in March
The premise “takes place 20 years later, and follows best friends Brooke and Peyton who are now parents of teenagers and who face challenges not unfamiliar to what they tackled in the original series, such as love, insecurity and heartbreak,” according to Term.
The original series’ showrunner, Mark Schwahn, is said to have no involvement in the reboot.
In 2017, Audrey Wauchope, one of the series’ writers, 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 members who had worked on One Tree Hill.
Bush claimed in 2021 that he had posted photos of the female cast members in their underwear in his office.
On Friday, Bush took to her Instagram page and seemingly confirmed that the series is back on Netflix.
The star, who came out as queer earlier this year in April, uploaded a photo of herself flashing a happy smile alongside Burton, Ackles and also Bevin Prince, who played the recurring role of Bevin Mirskey.
Sophia typed to her followers: ‘What if you could actually go back home? What if there was an opportunity to collaborate with brilliant creatives and build a space where all our friends could showcase their talents?’
The Good Sam actress, who recently showed off iconic retro outfits from the series, will reprise her role as Brooke Davis, while Burton returns as Peyton Sawyer
Sophia and Hilarie will also serve as executive producers on the One Tree Hill sequel. The reboot is in early production, and a firm release date has yet to be confirmed.
“Own our history? Reclaim our territory? Honor our fans? Sign us up,” the actress continued in the caption.
She then gave a shout-out to fans of the show, adding, “After all, there’s only one Tree Hill. And you guys — the #OTHfam — have shown us that it’s not just an idea. It really is the place where ‘everything is better and everything is safe.'”
Social media users jumped into the comments to share their thoughts on the Netflix reboot.
One wrote: ‘THIS IS AMAZING! SO SO SO EXCITED FOR THE FUTURE,’ while another added: ‘You are going to heal the world with this. I AM SO EXCITED!’
“I’m screaming, crying. My favorite show coming back is EVERYTHING ,” one fan shared, while another wrote, “This is the best news of the year!!!”
Hilarie uploaded the same image to her own Instagram page, along with a matching caption, immediately giving a sneak peek at the reboot.
Other former cast members have also weighed in on a possible sequel in the past, including Chad Michael Murray, who played Lucas Scott.
Earlier this year in May during a performance at the Today According to the actor, the reboot could “address all the trials and tribulations that today’s youth face.”
On Friday, Bush took to her Instagram page and seemingly confirmed the show’s return to Netflix
Sophia typed to her followers: ‘What if you could actually go back home? What if there was an opportunity to collaborate with brilliant creatives and build a space where all our friends could showcase their talents?’
‘Dealing with social media, discrimination and everything else that is out there in the world that can be brought to light.’
The Gilmore Girls alum added, “I meet 13, 14, 15-year-old fans who are completely in love with the show. They weren’t even alive when we started filming. It blows my mind. It’s a new show for them.”
And at the end of December last year he expressed his E! News on a sequel: ‘I just can’t imagine a world where something doesn’t happen.’
“Something will happen. Whether we get everyone together and do a live reading of the show, or we do a new fictional future episode, I don’t know what it will be.”
Murray continued, “This show has changed and shaped the lives of so many young people. There’s a place for the cultural shifts of today and the things that need to be addressed.”
“I think it’s time we create a new generation of shows that are appropriate for the contemporary issues that we face every day, from social media to racial injustice, the LGBT community and everything else going on outside of that.”
Last year, in September 2023, the show celebrated its 20th anniversary, with some cast members celebrating this special milestone
Chad added, “So people can feel like they belong and that they’re loved. That’s what we need.”
One Tree Hill ran for a total of nine seasons and first aired on The WB in September 2003. The show eventually aired on the CW, where the remaining seasons aired from 2006 to 2012.
Other stars who starred 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 several cast members celebrating the special milestone. Later that same year, the stars reunited on the original set to celebrate the anniversary.