The One Tree Hill train is making a comeback! And guess who’s stoking the nostalgia flames? None other than Hilarie Burton, everyone’s favorite brooding, curly-haired queen of Tree Hill. She’s 42 now—yep, that means we’ve all aged like fine wine (or expired yogurt, depending on the day)—and she’s diving back into the show that made us question our life choices and root for way too many high school basketball games.
So, what’s the tea? Well, Hilarie is set to reprise her role as Peyton, and guess what? She’s also leveling up as an executive producer. That’s right—she’s running the show now, literally! The reboot isn’t 100% locked in yet, but it’s brewing over at Netflix, which means we might soon be binge-watching 20 years of unresolved drama and questionable haircuts (seriously, let’s hope they don’t bring back those early 2000s hairstyles).
Hilarie spilled some beans recently, hinting at what’s in store. Apparently, this time around, the show’s got a brand-new pair of glasses: the female lens! No, that’s not a trendy new Instagram filter. It means the reboot will focus on women telling women’s stories—hallelujah, about time, right? Hilarie explained that working with a powerhouse team of ladies is now her jam. She basically said, “If it’s not a female team, I’m not playing.”
And honestly, we get it. Who else is gonna tell the story of a small town filled with ridiculous levels of teen angst, complex relationships, and… more basketball? (Seriously, why was there so much basketball?!)
Now, what about the fans, you ask? Oh, they’re losing their collective minds. You could say they’re dribbling with excitement (yes, that was a basketball pun). Hilarie was all smiles talking about how stoked everyone is. “The fans are loving it!” she said, probably while scrolling through heart-eyed emojis on Instagram. And let’s be real—Netflix is probably out there checking how many times the word “OMGGGG” was commented on reboot-related posts to decide if they’ll actually greenlight it.
However, not everything’s been smooth sailing in Tree Hill land. The big news about the reboot leaked before they could dramatically announce it themselves, which, if we’re honest, is kind of like someone yelling “surprise” before you even open the door. “Do I wish it hadn’t leaked?” Hilarie pondered. “Sure, but am I still going to strut in like the boss I am if Netflix makes it official? Absolutely!”
Oh, and here’s some Drama Queens drama. Over the summer, Hilarie decided to gracefully bow out of the One Tree Hill rewatch podcast she co-hosted with Sophia Bush and Bethany Joy Lenz. Her reasoning? She wasn’t in the last few seasons much, so she handed over the microphone to someone who actually was on the show during its final chapters. Honestly, that’s peak adulting—knowing when to exit stage left and let someone else handle the chaos.
If this reboot happens, expect a new era of One Tree Hill magic, more emotional rollercoasters, and probably a lot of “Wow, we really wore that in 2004?” moments. Fingers crossed that Netflix makes it happen—because, really, we could all use a little more Tree Hill drama in our lives, right?
