The One Tree Hill Revival Needs These Characters to Work
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One Tree Hill is coming back! Or, at least, the One Tree Hill universe kind of is, with TVLine reporting that a sequel series is in development at Netflix. For now, the only two characters set to reprise their roles are original series stars Sophia Bush (Brooke Davis) and Hilarie Burton (Peyton Sawyer), who will also executive produce. But, with the show set to pick up 20 years later and follow Brooke and Peyton as they parent teenagers of their own, there are a few other One Tree Hill stars that feel essential if the show is going to be anywhere near as successful as the original.
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Chad Michael Murray (Lucas Scott)
How is Peyton coming back without Lucas? It feels wrong to even consider that the two characters, who left the show together in Season 6, would not be together twenty years later. Or that if Peyton is indeed raising a teenage daughter in this new show – and that kid is someone other than Sawyer, who we already met on the show – that daughter would have any other father than Lucas Scott. The problem, of course, is that TVLine has already reported Chad Michael Murray is not set to return for this sequel series. And that just makes the whole thing a little suspect, if you ask us.
Austin Nichols (Julian Baker)
Same as with Peyton and Lucas, the show’s happy ending for Brooke Davis included Austin Nichols’ Julian Baker, who she had married in Season 8 of the show and had twins with. Starting a sequel series focusing on the kids without bringing back Nichols’, who is presumably the father of this teenage daughter, seems a little suspect. Plus, even if the show is going to focus on the kids, you don’t bring back Sophia Bush to a role like Brooke Davis without giving her some romantic storylines. And no one wants the show to just undo what happened in the original One Tree Hill, especially after all this time.
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James Lafferty (Nathan Scott)
Outside of the main three and Julian, who ended up marrying Brooke, it’s also hard to imagine any One Tree Hill reboot without Nathan Scott and Haley James Scott. Nathan is basically the co-lead of the show for six seasons, and basically the main focus of the last three, after all. Plus, his romance with Haley – his brother’s friend who he originally only dated to anger Lucas, but then fell in love with – might actually be the most iconic relationship of the show. And, if we think about it, probably the healthiest. Plus, it would just be cool to see Uncle Nathan!
Bethany Joy Lenz (Haley James Scott)
And there’s no Uncle Nathan without Aunt Haley! Nathan’s other half, Haley was as important a character as he was, and their relationship wasn’t iconic just because of him. So, there’s really no world where One Tree Hill can bring just one of them back. And if Chad Michael Murray isn’t coming back, then that is one more reason the show needs Naley and Haley James alongside Nathan Scott, and therefore needs Bethany Joe Lenz. Whatever is going on with Peyton without Lucas, she’s clearly going to need all the support she can get.
Lee Norris (Marvin “Mouth” McFadden)
Often thought of as just the comedic relief, Mouth was just everyone’s friend for so long that it would almost feel weird to have a sequel series without him. Does he really seem like the type of guy to not stay in touch? No, he is probably the friend who knows everything about your kids, sends the best presents, and is referred to by everyone as “uncle.” Plus, considering how he and Milicent ended up, bringing him back does add another teenager to the mix. Again, it only makes sense.
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