Sophia Bush Recalls Learning 'Years Later' That Chad Michael Murray Almost Played Nathan onOne Tree Hill

Mar. 15, 2025

Sophia Bush (left), Chad Michael Murray.Photo:Amy Sussman/WireImage, Alberto Rodriguez/Variety via Getty

Amy Sussman/WireImage, Alberto Rodriguez/Variety via Getty

One Tree Hillwas almost anentirelydifferent show.

On the Aug. 19 episode of theDrama Queenspodcast,Sophia Bushrevealed that at the earliest stages of the hit WB/CW series, the network had wantedChad Michael Murray, who ended up starring as Lucas Scott, to play the protagonist’s Nathan Scott — a part thatJames Laffertyended up taking on.

“Do you know that when the show first started – and I didn’t even know this until years later because Brooke’s not in the pilot… I learned that originally, the WB had tried to cast Chad as Nathan. And he was like, ‘No. I always play the bad guy. I wanna play the good guy.'”

Murray’s logic stemmed from his previous experience playing a “really terrible person” onDawson’s Creek,Bush noted. “But so Chad was almost Nathan and you were almost Quinn!”

James Lafferty as Nathan Scott, Chad Michael Murray as Lucas Scott in ‘One Tree Hill’ season 3.Alamy

Alamy

Kramer, 40, then revealed that she “personally never watchedOne Tree Hill” and that when she joined in season 7, she wasn’t even aware of one of the show’s main characters.

“I didn’t even know Nathan. And, I didn’t know they were brothers until, like, way later,” the country singer told Bush. “I really just didn’t do my research before going on the show.”

She did, however, know of Bush, who played Brooke Davis, before joining the series. “I knew you,” she told theDrama Queensco-host. “And I was so nervous. I remember working with you. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, she’s Sophia Bush.'”

Jana Kramer as Alex Dupré, Austin Nichols as Julian Baker in ‘One Tree Hill’ season 7.Everett

Everett

Murray, 42, has mentioned previously that he was originally slated to star as Nathan inOne Tree Hill,which ran from 2003 to 2012 for nine seasons. However, theCinderella Storyactor andHilarie Burton, who played his eventual wife, Peyton Sawyer,departed after season 6.

AtLiverpool Comic-Conin 2022, he recalled wanting to “do something different,” which led him to try his hand at playing the nicer of the two Scott brothers.

“Originally, they had asked me to play Nathan becauseI had played Tristan Dugray [onGilmore Girls]who was a bad boy and then I went and played Charlie Todd onDawson’s, who was also the bad boy. And so here comes Nathan and he’s supposed to be the bad guy,” Murray said, noting that instead, “Lucas was the choice for me.”

“And so it was a moment where I think I made a career decision and I put my foot down and I just said, ‘Guys I really wanna play Lucas. This is the character.’ And I was blessed enough that Warner Brothers and everybody there… took care of me and said, ‘You know what, alright, [we’re] gonna give you a shot.'”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

One Tree Hillis now streaming on Max and Hulu.

source: people.com