One Tree Hill is officially returning to screens as a sequel on Netflix, with original stars Sophia Bush and Hilarie Burton reprising their roles.
The Good Sam actress, 42, who recently showed off iconic outfits from the show, will reprise her character Brooke Davis, while Burton, also 42, will return as Peyton Sawyer.
Danneel Ackles, who played Rachel Gatina in the series, is set to executive produce the reboot under her production company with husband Jensen Ackles called Chaos Machine, according to Variety.
He is also in talks to possibly reprise his role, but it is unknown if other members of the original cast will also appear in the sequel, such as Chad Michael Murray and James Lafferty.
Sophia and Hilarie will also executive produce the One Tree Hill sequel. The new version is in its early stages of production and a release date has not yet been 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, will reprise their roles; spotted in March in New York
The premise “takes place 20 years later following best friends Brooke and Peyton, who are now parents of teenagers and facing challenges not unfamiliar to those they faced in the original series, such as love, insecurities and grief,” according to Deadline.
The original series’ showrunner, Mark Schwahn, reportedly has no interest in the reboot.
In 2017, one of the show’s writers, Audrey Wauchope, accused Schwahn of sexual harassment and emotional abuse.
Sophia, Hilarie and Bethany Joy Lenz supported Audrey’s claims, along with other actresses, writers and crew members who had worked on One Tree Hill.
In 2021, Bush claimed he had posted photos of female cast members in their underwear in his office.
On Friday, Bush took to her Instagram page and seemingly confirmed the show’s return to Netflix.
The star, who came out as gay in early April this year, posted a photo of himself smiling happily alongside Burton, Ackles and also Bevin Prince, who played the recurring role of Bevin Mirskey.
Sophia wrote to her followers: “What if you could actually go home? What if there was an opportunity to team up with brilliant creatives and build a space where all our friends could showcase their talents?”
The Good Sam actress, who recently showed off iconic outfits from the show, will reprise her character Brooke Davis, while Burton will return as Peyton Sawyer.
Sophia and Hilarie will also executive produce the One Tree Hill sequel. The new version is in its early stages of production and a release date has not yet been confirmed.
“Own our history? Reclaim our turf? Honor our fans? Sign us up,” the actress wrote in the caption.
She then appealed to fans of the show, adding: “After all, there is only one Tree Hill. And you, 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 took to the comments section to share their thoughts on the Netflix reboot.
One wrote: “THIS IS AMAZING! I AM 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, also teasing the reboot.
Other former cast members have expressed 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 On the show, the actor claimed the reboot could “tackle all the trials and tribulations that young people go through today.”
On Friday, Bush took to her Instagram page and seemingly confirmed the show’s return to Netflix.
Sophia wrote to her followers: “What if you could actually go home? What if there was an opportunity to team up with brilliant creatives and build a space where all our friends could showcase their talents?”
‘Dealing with social media, discrimination and everything else that’s out there in the world that we can bring to light.’
The Gilmore Girls alum added: “I’m going to meet fans who are 13, 14, 15 years old and are in love with the show. They weren’t alive when we started filming. It blows my mind. It’s a new show for them.”
And at the end of last year, in December, he told E! News On a sequel: “I can’t imagine a world where something doesn’t happen.”
“Something’s going to happen. I don’t know if we’ll get everyone together and do a live reading of the show or if we’ll create a new fictional episode from the future.”
Murray continued: “This programme has changed and shaped the lives of many young people. It has a place for current cultural changes and issues that need to be addressed.”
“I think it’s time for us to make a new generation of the show for today’s use of the issues we face every day, from social media to racial injustice to the LGBT community and everything in between.”
Last year in September 2023, the show celebrated its 20th anniversary and some cast members celebrated the special milestone.
Chad added: “So that people can feel part of a group and that they are loved. That’s what we need.”
One Tree Hill ran for a total of nine seasons and began airing on the WB in September 2003. The show eventually jumped to the CW to air the remaining seasons from 2006 to 2012.
Other stars 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 and some of the cast members celebrated this special milestone. Later that year, the stars reunited on the original set to celebrate the anniversary as well.