All About theOne Tree HillReboot, Including What the Cast Has Said About Returning

Mar. 15, 2025

Hilarie Burton and Sophia Bush in ‘One Tree Hill’ in 2003.Photo:Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

One Tree Hillfans might be returning to Tree Hill soon!

In late August, original starsSophia BushandHilarie Burtonconfirmed their plans fora new revival of the hit 2000s series, which they will also executive produce with former costar Danneel Ackles.

“What if you really can go back home?” the actresses wrote in a joint message in separate Instagram posts. “If there’s an opportunity to team with brilliant creatives and build a space where all our friends can show off their talents? Own our history? Reclaim our turf? Honor our fans? Sign us up.”

The pair then addressedOne Tree Hillfans, writing, “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.”

While longtime fans are excited about the possibility of a revival, which PEOPLE confirmed was inthe early stages of development, many are wondering how the new story will be different from the original.

Here’s everything we know so far about the possible revival.

What will theOne Tree Hillreboot be about?

Though the cast has kept pretty mum on details about the series,Deadlinepreviously reported that the new show would be set 20 years after the first, as best friends Brooke (Bush) and Peyton (Burton) are “now parents to teens and facing challenges not unfamiliar to what they tackled in the original series like love, insecurities and grief.”

Jana Kramer, who played Alex Dupré on the series, further teased the storyline on an episode of herWhine Downpodcast, noting that Brooke and Peyton would be “coming back as moms."

WhichOne Tree Hillcast members will return for the reboot?

James Lafferty and Bethany Joy Lenz on ‘One Tree Hill’ in 2003.The WB/Fred Norris/Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett

The WB/Fred Norris/Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett

At the moment, Bush and Burton are the only confirmed stars attached to the project, though many original cast members have expressed their interest in returning.

During herWhine Downpodcast, Kramer noted that she had early discussions with Burton about appearing on the reboot before the news was leaked. “I think their intention is to bring back people that make sense,” she said. “And Hilarie was like, ‘I never got to meet Alex, so it’d be fun to have us meet,’ and I’m like, ‘I would love that. Sign me up.’ So, we’ll see. TBD.”

“I think it would be very interesting to know what Nathan is doing now,” James Lafferty said of his character. “And I think it just depends on what that is. I think it would be great if he’s with Haley and her family and all good. It would be cool to see where his agency and career is now, if that’s happening.”Bryan Greenberg, who played Jake on the series, joked that his character would probably still be facing some legal troubles after he was shown going through a lengthy custody battle over his daughter Jenny and other run-ins with the police.

“Jake, I think, is still on the lam,” Greenberg said to laughs. “Hiding out in Panama, playing guitar at a little beach bar waiting for Jenny to come get him. She’s grown — she’s sending me money. I have no idea,” he admitted, before teasing a possible revival or reboot. “But maybe we’ll find out, because I hear there are maybe things happening.”

Meanwhile, Antwon Tanner, who played Skills on the show, said he was all on board for the reboot, telling the crowd, “All I got to say about a reboot is if they do reboot it, tell Netflix to hire me.”

It’s also been speculated thatDanneel AcklesandBevin Princecould appear on the series as they were featured in Burton and Bush’s post about the reboot. Austin Nichols, who played Bush’s onscreen husband Julian, also raised eyebrows about his return as he expressed his excitement on Bush’s initial post.

Which cast members won’t return for theOne Tree Hillreboot?

“I moved on. But I had a good time playing him and I was honored to be given such an interesting character,” Johansson said, prompting laughs from the crowd. “But he’s gone, and it’s best to leave him.”

It’s also been reported thatChad Michael Murray, who starred as Lucas Scott on the series, “had no plans to return” for the reboot, perDeadline.

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Who is producing theOne Tree Hillreboot?

Sophia Bush and Hilarie Burton on ‘One Tree Hill’ in the 2000s.Everett

Additional executive producers Becky Hartman Edwards and Ackles’ husband,Jensen Ackles, will also be working on the project, according toThe Hollywood Reporter.

Speaking exclusively with PEOPLE recently, Burton teased that the new series will beproduced through a “female lens.”

“What I can say is that this go-around, being able to work with a team of women and look at these stories [and] these characters through a female lens is something that — whether I was doing a reboot or a brand new show or a different movie at this phase in my life, female teamwork is something that is so vital to me,” she explained. “It is the core of anything I’ve done that’s successful. So I’m excited to be able to team up with people that I look up to, people that I love dearly.”

Burton added that the “stories” she wants to tell in this “phase” of her life “are very different than they were when I was 20,” and that perspective is influencing the reboot, too.

Where will theOne Tree Hillreboot film?

‘One Tree Hill’ cast in 2003.Everett Collection

Everett Collection

Seeing as the reboot is still in very early stages, there hasn’t been an official confirmation about where the series would film. However, many of the cast members have spoken fondly about their time filming the original series in Wilmington, N.C.

Laguna Beachalumnus Stephen Colletti, who played Chase in later seasons, recalled that filming in Wilmington was such a “fun” experience and he always loves coming back.

“I grew up in California and so working on the show was always so fun to come out here and experience the south, experience Wilmington,” he said during a Q&A panel for the show’s 21st anniversary. “When we left, I really thought that was it. But now we’re sitting here,it’s the 21st anniversary[of the show]. We’ve done probably 10 to 15 conventions around here over the years.”“It’s a testament to you guys for being loyal fans of the show,” he continued, addressing the fans. “Thank you guys for supporting the show as much as you do and for bringing us back to Wilmington.”

Where will theOne Tree Hillreboot be available to stream?

Though the original series premiered on The WB and later The CW, the reboot is expected to air on Netflix, perThe Hollywood Reporter.

source: people.com