Sophia Bush Shares Update On ‘One Tree Hill’ Sequel Series After Announcement Leaked “Early”
With One Tree Hill making its long-awaited return, Sophia Bush is in the process of reconnecting with Brooke Davis.
After Deadline reported in August that a sequel to the WB/CW series is in the works at Netflix, led by Bush and co-star Hilarie Burton Morgan, the actress explained that they’re still in the process of redeveloping their characters after the 2012 series finale.
“It’s unfortunate when development news leaks early. That was a bit of a bummer for us, because we wanted to get it across the finish line and then have a party,” Bush told Access.
Returning as an executive producer with Burton Morgan, Bush raved that the process of developing the series has been “really incredible.”
“The fans have kept that show alive, and they’ve asked for it for so long, and the studio came to us about,” she continued. “I think 10 years ago, I would have said ‘not on your life.’ And now I realize that the opportunity to have not just a comfort show, but kind of a home base, matters for people.”
Hilarie Burton and Sophia Bush in One Tree Hill. (Fred Norris/Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Collection)
Bush said, “And so, beginning to figure out how we might tell these stories and reunite our whole ragtag bunch feels really, really amazing. If it happens, I think you’ll be very pleased.”
After news broke of the continuation, Bush and Burton Morgan confirmed their involvement in a joint statement, expressing their excitement over returning to the show, which premiered in 2003 and originally ran for nine seasons.
“What if you really can go back home?” they wrote. “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. 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.’”
The sequel is said to take place 20 years after the original, following best friends Brooke (Davis) and Peyton (Burton Morgan) who are now parents to teens and facing challenges not unfamiliar to what they tackled in the original series like love, insecurities and grief, we understand.
The project hails from writer/executive producer Becky Hartman Edwards and Warner Bros. TV. Danneel and her husband Jensen Ackles are executive producing the project through their Chaos Machine banner with the former in talks to return as Rachel Scott. Emily Moss Wilson is a producer.
