One Tree Hill star Chad Michael Murray has opened up about the sequel series to the popular WB/CW young adult drama in development at Netflix, which will be executive produced and starring his former co-stars Sophia Bush and Hilarie Burton.
While discussing his upcoming Netflix film The Merry Gentlemen, in which he stars alongside Britt Robertson, Murray expressed excitement for fans who will see many of their favorites continue their stories. In the original, Murray starred as Lucas, half-brother to James Lafferty’s Nathan Scott.
“I really want some iteration of this show to come back for the fans,” he told Deadline. “I’ll tell you, whatever iteration of the show comes forward, I want that for the fans. There’s such a brotherhood and a bond between so many people all around the world with us. I’m grateful for that.”
Robertson playfully mentioned that she was trying to convince Murray to participate in the continuation because “my mom is obsessed with the show,” but she said Murray wouldn’t tell her anything. When Deadline reported the news in August, Murray’s participation did not seem likely. The actor did not address whether his plans have changed.
Bush and Burton are set to reprise their roles of best friends Brooke Davis and Peyton Sawyer, respectively, who, 20 years later, are now parents to teens and facing challenges not unfamiliar to what they tackled in the original series such as love, insecurities and grief. Beyond the duo, no other original actors have been confirmed to be participating. Danneel Ackles was said to have been in talks to return as Rachel in the new project at the time of the original announcement. She will executive produce the sequel series alongside her husband Jensen Ackles through their Chaos Machine banner.
A role from the past Murray will reprise is that of ‘Jake’ from Freaky Friday in the sequel film starring original duo Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, as well as several newcomers. When asked about his return to the franchise, he shared that his wish is for fans to see the film in theaters as it was intended. Freakier Friday is set to be released on August 8, 2025.
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“This is a fun, absolutely insane film, and everybody just crushed it. Hats off to the entire team,” he said. “It’s awesome. Complicated as all get out. Oh yeah. Happily complicated.”
Before that release, he will star in Netflix’s The Merry Gentlemen, where Robertson’s Ashley returns home and finds her parents’ small-town performing venue — The Rhythm Room — struggling for funds. As a former big city dancer, she gets the idea to raise money with an all-male Christmas-themed revue, centering on Murray’s reluctant Luke. The film arrives Nov. 20 on the streamer.
(L-R) Britt Robertson as Ashley and Chad Michael Murray as Luke in The Merry Gentlemen.