It’s official — we’re heading back to Tree Hill, North Carolina. Over a decade since the final episode aired, a One Tree Hill sequel is in the works at Netflix. And if that news alone wasn’t enough to spark a wave of 2000s nostalgia, actor Austin Nichols (aka Julian Baker) has just confirmed he’s keen to return.
Below, everything we know so far about the revival.
Who’s involved in the One Tree Hill revival?
The new series is being developed by writer and executive producer Becky Hartman Edwards, alongside Warner Bros. Television. Original cast members Sophia Bush and Hilarie Burton-Morgan are confirmed to return as Brooke Davis and Peyton Sawyer — and they’ll also serve as executive producers. Danneel Ackles is in talks to reprise her role as Rachel Scott, with husband Jensen Ackles joining her behind the scenes as executive producer via their production company Chaos Machine.
Austin Nichols, who played filmmaker Julian Baker, says he’s more than ready to come back. “I would absolutely love to,” he told Deadline. “People still watch it and love it... Hopefully we have some good news soon.”
Chad Michael Murray, the prince of noughties television dramas has also previously confirmed his interest in coming back.
In an interview with TV Fanatic the actor said, "I believe at some point, I'm sure there will be some new iteration of One Tree Hill...I've always heard things over the years, but nothing ever came to fruition." Could it be? Our OG crush making a return to the angst-filled town of Tree Hill? Time will tell.
What will the sequel be about?
The official details are pretty tightly under wraps, but here's what we do know so far. Set two decades after the original show, the sequel will follow Brooke Davis and Peyton Sawyer—now in their 40s—as they raise teenagers of their own. This time around, it will be their kids facing the kinds of rites of passage the characters confronted in the original series. At the same time, Brooke and Peyton find themselves reckoning with how far they’ve come, while also confronting wounds from their past.
When will it be released?
The project is currently in development at Netflix, with scripts being written and early production underway. No official release date yet — but if you're a fan of the original, consider this your excuse to rewatch the first nine seasons.
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