Chad Michael Murray has no plans to star in the upcoming One Tree Hill sequel because he has no desire to work with his ex-wife Sophia Bush, insiders claim.
Bush and her fellow costar Hilarie Burton, both 42, confirmed in August that a new series is in the works for Netflix — with the pair both serving as executive producers.
The hit series, which ran from 2003 to 2012, was known for a number of explosive storylines, but just as dramatic were the real events behind the scenes, including Murray and Bush’s bitter divorce.
The 2005 split proved so divisive that Murray, 43, does not want to reunite with or work for his estranged ex on the upcoming project, with insiders claiming no amount of money could tempt him.
“There is no love lost between Chad and Sophia,” an insider told DailyMail.com. “They have both moved on in their personal lives since their divorce.”
Bush and Murray officially started dating in 2003 and married in Santa Monica in 2005.
Chad Michael Murray has no plans to star in the upcoming One Tree Hill sequel because he has no desire to work with his ex-wife Sophia Bush, insiders have told DailyMail.com.
The hit series ran from 2003 to 2012 and was known for a number of explosive storylines – but just as dramatic were the events behind the scenes, including Murray and Bush’s bitter divorce.
They celebrated at the Hotel Casa del Mar with their friends and family, but shocked fans when they split just five months later.
It was rumored at the time that Murray had ended their marriage to none other than his House of Wax costar Paris Hilton.
Bush attempted to have the marriage annulled, citing fraud, but her efforts were unsuccessful and the divorce was eventually finalized in 2006.
‘This is a difficult and unfortunate situation. I’m glad this will be resolved sooner rather than later,” she said in a statement shared with PEOPLE at the time.
Awkwardly, the pair still had to work together on the show while dealing with the divorce.
Murray left One Tree Hill in 2009 after six seasons playing brooding basketball player Lucas Scott, who was involved in a complicated love triangle with Bush’s Brooke Davis and her best friend Peyton Sawyer, played by Burton.
“Sophia tried to have their marriage annulled on the grounds of fraud, but she was denied,” the source continued. “The last thing Chad wants or needs is to work with or for Sophia.
“With her producer credit, that means she would be his boss. No amount of money would make him go back.”
Murray, 43, and Bush, 42, officially started dating in 2003 and married in Santa Monica in 2005, but they split five months later.
“With her producer credit, that means she would be his boss,” the source said. ‘No amount of money could make him go back’ (photo with fellow exec producer Hilarie Burton)
The actor was coy about any possible involvement when pressed during the promotional stages for his new Netflix Christmas movie, simply claiming that he is excited for fans.
In an interview with Termhe said: “I really want a repeat of this show to come back for the fans. I’ll tell you, whatever version of the show comes out, I want that for the fans.
“There is such a brotherhood and bond between so many people around the world with us. I’m grateful for that.’
In a separate chat with The Hollywood Reporter, Murray explained that he had not been contacted about the project.
Explaining how he reacted to the news, he admitted he was on the phone with his co-star James Lafferty – who played his half-brother Nathan Scott.
“We’re not doing this because no one has ever picked up the phone and said, ‘Hey, we’re doing this,’ so we’re not doing it,” he told the publication.
In the years since Murray left OTH, he has had several public clashes with his ex-wife over the strife in their marriage.
In 2018, Bush, who was 22 when they tied the knot, sparked controversy when she claimed she had been too young to make the decision to get married and said she felt “pressured” to go through with it.
Murray and Bush as Lucas Scott and Brooke Davies on set in 2003
In August, Bush and fellow OTH alumni Burton, Danneel Ackles and Bevin Prince confirmed that a sequel series was in the works for Netflix
On Andy Cohen’s SiriusXM radio show, she said that “everyone is 22 and stupid,” adding that marriage “wasn’t something I really wanted to do.”
She recalled how she was persuaded to join the union, telling Cohen, “Because how do you let everyone down? And how do you – what is the fight?
“And when you have bosses telling you that you’re the only person who gets anyone to work on time, and 200 people get to see their kids at night or not, because our days start on time.
‘What the public ever knows is never; it’s not the tip of the iceberg.’
She said that she and Burton “used to laugh, and we said, ‘If we had a show behind the scenes, the drama would be so much better than the drama the writers write.’
In a statement to PeopleMurray’s rep fired back, saying the “story is ridiculous.”
“Chad conducts himself in a completely professional manner and would never marry for any reason other than love,” the rep continued. ‘Thirteen years since his divorce from Sophia, he has had a very happy family life with his wife and children.
“He has completely moved on and doesn’t feel the need to engage in this type of behavior.”
Murray went on to marry actress and model Sarah Roemer, 40, who is best known for her role in the film Disturbia starring Shia Labeouf.
Elsewhere, the actor has delighted fans by stripping down for his new Netflix holiday film, The Merry Gentlemen
The incident prompted Bush to announce that she would never speak about her ex again during a 2021 interview on Smallville alumnus Michael Rosenbaum’s podcast, Inside of You.
“Oh, I’m not going to talk about him,” she said at the time. “I’m not allowed to do that because I’ve tried to make fun of the fact that I’m a stupid kid, and every time I do that, it gets twisted that I’m talking shit about someone I don’t even know anymore. , who is clearly an adult.
“I think you should laugh about who you used to be, but when people ask me about history involving someone else… it’s not worth my time. It’s not a place where I harbor any ill will or anything.”
When Rosenbaum added that it also can’t “come out right,” Bush agreed, adding, “That never happens!” And I’ve been trying to like, you know, do that thing where if I get stuck live on air – which has happened to me twice – I get asked where I give a little bit… like jazz hands making jokes and to proceed . It just doesn’t work, so I’m not going to do it.’
Murray went on to marry actress and model Sarah Roemer, 40, who is best known for her role in the film Disturbia starring Shia Labeouf.
Bush is currently in a relationship with former footballer Ashlyn Harris following her divorce from entrepreneur Grant Hughes.
Murray is currently gearing up for his new Netflix holiday movie, The Merry Gentlemen, in which he strips down, much to the delight of fans.
The actor plays a member of an all-male Christmas-themed revue.
The film also stars Britt Robertson as Ashley, a former big-city dancer who teams up to save her parents’ scenic stage location.