Netflix is moving forward with a sequel to the beloved drama series "One Tree Hill," with original cast members returning both in front of and behind the camera. The project reunites Sophia Bush, Hilarie Burton, and Danneel Ackles as executive producers — and all three are expected to reprise their roles on screen.
Who Is Behind the One Tree Hill Netflix Sequel
Becky Hartman Edwards, known for her work on "Firefly Lane" and "Parenthood," will serve as showrunner and executive producer. Danneel Ackles will executive produce through Chaos Machine Productions, the banner she operates alongside her husband Jensen Ackles.
Warner Bros. Television — which produced the original nine-season run on The WB and later the CW — will handle production of the sequel.
What the Story Will Cover
The sequel is set approximately 20 years after the original series and will center on Brooke and Peyton, now parents to teenagers, facing challenges not unlike those they tackled in their youth: love, insecurities, and grief. Bush is set to reprise her role as Brooke Davis, while Burton returns as Peyton Sawyer. Danneel Ackles is in talks to return as Rachel Scott.
The participation of other original cast members remains uncertain. Neither Netflix nor Warner Bros. Television has issued an official statement about the project.
The Original Series and Its Legacy
The original "One Tree Hill" ran for nine seasons on The WB and the CW, following half-brothers Lucas and Nathan Scott and their community in Tree Hill, North Carolina. The show explored friendship, family conflict, and relationships — themes the sequel intends to revisit for a new generation.
Bush, Burton, and several other cast members currently co-host the podcast "Drama Queens," which revisits the show's legacy and behind-the-scenes stories.
Mark Schwahn Will Not Return
Original creator Mark Schwahn will not be involved in the sequel. In 2017, Burton and other cast and crew members publicly accused Schwahn of sexual harassment and assault — allegations that were later discussed at length on the "Drama Queens" podcast. His absence from the new project was confirmed alongside the initial reports of the sequel's development.
