Chad Michael Murray’s Absence from ‘One Tree Hill’ Sequel Raises Serious Concerns for Fans as Sophia Bush, Hilarie Burton Confirm Their Comeback
- Chad Michael Murray is not returning for the 'One Tree Hill' sequel.
- Peyton’s return opens the door for a potential romance with Jake.
- The sequel, set 20 years later, promises new drama and storylines.
One Tree Hill fans—Netflix is bringing back the drama with a long-awaited sequel! That’s right, Sophia Bush and Hilarie Burton are suiting up once again as Brooke Davis and Peyton Sawyer. It’s basically the high school reunion we’ve all been dreaming about, minus that one guy we might have loved to see: Chad Michael Murray, aka Lucas Scott.
Yes, you heard correctly! Lucas, the ultimate love triangle magnet and plot twist aficionado, won’t be making a comeback for the sequel. And while the original creator, Mark Schwahn, won’t be calling the shots this time, the drama is set to flow just as freely. So, why is Lucas MIA, and what does this mean for the new plot? Read on, Tree Hill enthusiasts—things are about to get complicated.
Chad Michael Murray’s Absence: What Does It Mean for One Tree Hill?
Chad Michael Murray is missing from the One Tree Hill sequel, and fans are pretty rattled. Yep, Lucas Scott—who’s been through enough drama to give soap operas a run for their money—isn’t making an appearance in the new Netflix series.
Fans are left wondering: is this a plot hole big enough to drive a convertible through? After all, Lucas and Peyton Sawyer (Hilarie Burton) were the endgame couple, tying the knot in 2009’s Forever and Almost Always episode and making everyone swoon. Plus, they had a daughter, Brooke Scott, at the end of Season 6. So, what’s going on?
The most plausible (but not exactly cheerful) guess is that Lucas might have been written off in a less-than-ideal way—perhaps even killed off. After all, in the world of TV drama, anything is possible, and it’s not unheard of for beloved characters to meet untimely ends.
However, another thing could be that Lucas and Peyton might have separated or gone through some dramatic split, and now Peyton is finding her way back into the spotlight. Either way, fans are on waiting, trying to piece together the clues and hoping for a plot twist that doesn’t involve a tear-jerking backstory.
Does Lucas Departure Mean Peyton and Jake Can Finally Be Together?
Fans of One Tree Hill have always been divided—are you team Peyton-Lucas or team Peyton-Jake? While Peyton ended up with Lucas, many viewers still dream of what could’ve been with Peyton and Jake. Now, with Chad Michael Murray (Lucas) out of the picture, could this be Jake’s time to shine?
Imagine this: 20 years after the original series, Peyton and Jake could finally give that ‘what if’ romance a shot. Jake Jagielski, played by Bryan Greenberg, was the heartthrob musician who stole hearts the first time around. If Peyton and Jake get together in the sequel, it’d be like the ultimate ‘Hey, remember us?’ moment for fans. Even some fans want that, so why not?
Sophia Bush and Hilarie Burton, who are both back as executive producers, are leading the charge. As of now, they’re the only confirmed stars, but we’re expecting to see more familiar faces if the show gets the green light. Here’s hoping for a reunion that hits all the right notes!
One Tree Hill is available to stream on Hulu.
