1 week Ago By Sara Baalla
*One Tree Hill spoilers follow* In keeping with the string on noughties TV shows that have returned to our screens decades later, it's been confirmed that a One Tree Hill reboot is in the works. In a report by Deadline, it was announced that the CW drama would be making its way to streaming giant Netflix. The publication revealed that Sophia Bush and Hilarie Burton are set to reprise their respective roles of Brooke Davis and Peyton Sawyer, as well as serving as executive producers.
Danneel Ackles, aka Rachel Gatina, is in talks to return too. As a One Tree Hill superfan, I was overjoyed when I read the news - which happened to come through while I was rewatching the show for the millionth time. I kept scrolling through the article in a wave of excitement, eager to find the names of my favourite characters, but I couldn't.
That's because they haven't been confirmed to appear yet. Any OTH fan will recognise the names Nathan Scott and Haley James, but if you haven't seen the show, let me give you a quick explainer. The series is set in the fictional North Carolina town of Tree Hill, and centres around two half-brothers, Nathan and Lucas, whose deep-rooted rivalry plays out on both the basketball court and in school.
Things take an unexpected turn when school bully Nathan falls in love with wallflower Haley, who also happens to be Lucas' best friend. As Haley begins tutoring Nathan, her kindness soon rubs off on him, with the popular jock growing into a well-rounded boyfriend - and eventually husband/father. The pair's love story spanned the show's entire nine seasons, with fans falling head over heels for their unmatched relationship.
The couple overcame lots of obstacles, including car crashes, rock tours, kidnappings and a school shooting, to name a few. But with every challenge, they always managed to find a way to move forward, setting the perfect benchmark for the series. While Lucas was embroiled in a few too many love triangles, Nathan and Haley's relationship continued to flourish - so, naturally, they're everyone's favourite couple.
It's no wonder fans flock to the charming port city of Wilmington, where the show was filmed, to take a picture of themselves at the Riverwalk bench where Nathan and Haley's romance started. Honestly, what would the reboot be without them? Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love Brooke. Alongside Nathan, the former it girl had one of the biggest transformations on the show.
From being an insecure cheerleader to founding a successful clothing line and starting a family, Brooke's future adult life would be a welcome addition. Indeed, it's very early to predict how the sequel will play out and who will be involved, but surely the team know that most fans will return to the world of Tree Hill expecting Nathan and Haley to be there. Bethany Joy Lenz, who played Haley, has said she is "absolutely open" to being part of a revisiting of One Tree Hill, but "didn't know" if she was going to be involved in this particular reboot.
"It's so early. I don't know if it's in pilot, I don't know if it's in series. I don't know where it's at," she previously explained to Variety.
The star added: "What I get out of people wanting to see Nathan and Haley is that the show meant so much to people. The characters meant so much to people. They feel so connected to their experience of us, it's almost like we were friends they grew up with.
They're championing their friends and I just love that. It's worth its weight in gold." Bethany's comments are hopeful, and considering how close she is with Sophia Bush - the pair still co-host the official OTH rewatch podcast Drama Queens - we can keep our fingers crossed that Haley will make an appearance.
After recent revelations about Bethany's challenging personal life at the time of filming OTH, which she detailed in her best-selling memoir Dinner for Vampires, it would be an incredibly special moment for the star to reclaim her time on the show, making new memories that blur out the darkness she previously had to hide on set. However, she might have to do that solo. James Lafferty, who played Nathan, has alluded to not being able to take part in the reboot, as his focus lies with his comedy show Everyone is Doing Great - which he co-created with fellow OTH alum Stephen Colletti, aka everyone's favourite bar manager, Chase Adams.
"Personally, I'm blown away by the fans that make a conversation like this even possible. Professionally, I'm completely focused on finding Everyone is Doing Great season two the right home. Until then, consider me grateful for this moment and cheering everyone on!" James said.
Since the reboot's announcement, fans have taken to social media to share their hopes for a Nathan and Haley - affectionately known as Naley - reunion. "Surely there can't be a #OneTreeHill reboot without Haley and Nathan?! I need my Naley fix," one person wrote on X (formerly Twitter), while another added: "@netflix I am not watching the One Tree Hill reboot without Naley! Make it happen or don't do it." "If Nathan and Haley aren't in the #OneTreeHill reboot we don't want it," a third fan said, with another echoing the sentiment: "I have mixed feelings about a potential OTH reboot.
This show meant a lot to me when I was a teenager. If Joy and James are not coming back, I don't see how they can conquer the hearts of nostalgic fans." Meanwhile, others have said that not having Naley in the reboot would be a welcome step forward, as they were the "stability" of the show for so long, and maybe it needs freshening up.
To that I'd say, yes, change can be good, but why would you change something that works so incredibly well?.
