The Tree Hill Five: Where The Cast Of One Tree Hill Is Now (2025 Updates On Cults, Queer Love, And A Reboot)

Few teen dramas have left a mark on pop culture quite like One Tree Hill (OTH), and the lives of the core cast members—Lucas, Peyton, Brooke, Nathan, and Haley—continue to captivate fans more than a decade after the finale. As of late 2024 and early 2025, the stars of the show are making headlines with career-defining projects, major personal revelations, and a highly anticipated push for a return to Tree Hill.

The latest updates are arguably more dramatic than the show itself, featuring shocking revelations about a cult, a star publicly coming out, and the continued success of a rewatch podcast that has exposed the show's dark, behind-the-scenes controversies. Here is a deep dive into the current lives and careers of the main cast members, detailing their freshest projects and most significant personal news.

The Core Five: Complete One Tree Hill Cast Biography & Profile

The heart of One Tree Hill rested on the intertwining lives of the Scott brothers and the three central female leads. Here is a complete biographical profile of the five main actors who defined the series:

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• Chad Michael Murray (Lucas Scott)
  • Full Name: Chad Michael Murray
  • Date of Birth: August 24, 1981
  • Birthplace: Buffalo, New York, U.S.
  • Role: Lucas Scott, the soulful, basketball-playing writer and brother to Nathan.
• James Lafferty (Nathan Scott)
  • Full Name: James Martin Lafferty
  • Date of Birth: July 25, 1985
  • Birthplace: Hemet, California, U.S.
  • Role: Nathan Scott, the initial antagonist who evolves into a devoted husband and father.
• Hilarie Burton (Peyton Sawyer)
  • Full Name: Hilarie Ross Burton Morgan
  • Date of Birth: July 1, 1982
  • Birthplace: Sterling, Virginia, U.S.
  • Role: Peyton Sawyer, the artistic, fiercely independent outsider who becomes Lucas's true love.
• Sophia Bush (Brooke Davis)
  • Full Name: Sophia Anna Bush
  • Date of Birth: July 8, 1982
  • Birthplace: Pasadena, California, U.S.
  • Role: Brooke Davis, the popular cheerleader who transforms into a successful fashion designer and loyal friend.
• Bethany Joy Lenz (Haley James Scott)
  • Full Name: Bethany Joy Lenz
  • Date of Birth: April 2, 1981
  • Birthplace: Hollywood, Florida, U.S.
  • Role: Haley James Scott, the tutor and aspiring musician who marries Nathan and serves as the show's moral compass.

The Drama Queens: Podcasts, Controversies, and the OTH Reboot

The most significant and ongoing One Tree Hill-related project is the "Drama Queens" podcast, hosted by the three female leads: Sophia Bush, Hilarie Burton Morgan, and Bethany Joy Lenz. The podcast, which dissects the show episode-by-episode, has been a massive success, regularly releasing new episodes into 2025.

Beyond rewatching, the podcast has become the primary platform for the cast to address the toxic work environment and alleged abuse they experienced on set. In 2017, multiple cast and crew members, including the "Drama Queens," accused showrunner Mark Schwahn of sexual harassment and professional misconduct.

The cast has used the podcast to detail specific incidents, including the shocking 2006 Maxim photo shoot controversy, where they described demeaning abuses of power. This openness has galvanized the fanbase and redefined the show's legacy, separating the beloved characters from the troubled production. The podcast continues to be a source of fresh, often intense, discussion about the show’s history.

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The One Tree Hill Revival: Is a Reboot Happening?

The biggest news for fans is the potential for a return to Tree Hill. In late 2024, both Sophia Bush and Hilarie Burton confirmed they were actively working with Netflix on a new revival project. The project is reportedly in a "healthy place," according to co-star Austin Nichols (Julian Baker). While details are scarce, the involvement of the original stars who have been vocal about the show's past suggests a new series would be created on their own terms.

Chad Michael Murray (Lucas Scott) and James Lafferty (Nathan Scott) have also expressed public support for the idea, signaling a potential full cast return. The push for a reboot is a direct result of the renewed interest and the cast's collective effort to reclaim the narrative through the "Drama Queens" platform.

Major Personal & Career Updates in 2024-2025

Bethany Joy Lenz: The Cult Memoir That Shocked Fans

Bethany Joy Lenz (Haley James Scott) is set to release one of the most anticipated celebrity memoirs of 2025. Her book, Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show, details her decade-long secret life as a member of a cult while she was starring on One Tree Hill.

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The memoir is described as a "deliciously witty and inspiring" account of her quest to break free from the group she joined in the early 2000s, seeking a sense of belonging. The revelation that the show's moral center was simultaneously leading a secret double life within a cult has generated intense curiosity and is a major focus of her public appearances in 2024 and 2025.

Sophia Bush: Divorce, Queerness, and a New Relationship

Sophia Bush (Brooke Davis) has been in the public eye for significant personal reasons in 2024 and 2025. After filing for divorce from entrepreneur Grant Hughes in August 2023 after just 13 months of marriage, her divorce was finalized in early 2025.

Following her separation, Bush publicly came out as queer and confirmed her new relationship with former world champion soccer star Ashlyn Harris. Bush's openness about her identity and the end of her marriage, which she described as feeling "phony" amid grueling fertility issues, has been a powerful and widely discussed topic, making her one of the most talked-about OTH stars in the current news cycle.

Chad Michael Murray: The King of Holiday and Streaming Films

Chad Michael Murray (Lucas Scott) has established a highly successful niche in the streaming and romantic drama space. In 2024 and 2025, he has multiple projects dominating the streaming charts.

• 2024/2025 Film Projects: Murray starred in the Netflix film Mother of the Bride alongside Brooke Shields, and the Christmas movie The Merry Gentlemen. He also has the upcoming film Joy To The World slated for 2025.
• Television: He continues to star as Cal Jones in the CTV romantic drama series Sullivan's Crossing, which premiered in 2023 and is ongoing in 2025.

James Lafferty and Hilarie Burton: Directing, Producing, and Mischief Farm

James Lafferty (Nathan Scott) and Hilarie Burton Morgan (Peyton Sawyer) have largely focused on producing, directing, and their personal lives. Lafferty, who is married to actress Alexandra Park, is a director and producer, often collaborating with fellow OTH alum Stephen Colletti (Chase Adams) on projects like their series Everyone Is Doing Great. In 2025, Lafferty joined the mental health and wellness podcast Chaos Controlled. He also starred in his first-ever Lifetime Christmas Movie in 2024.

Hilarie Burton Morgan, who is married to actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan, is a bestselling author and entrepreneur. Her 2020 book, The Rural Diaries: Love, Livestock, and Big Life Lessons Down on Mischief Farm, details her life on their New York farm. She remains a central figure in the OTH community, actively working on the reboot and participating in fan events, such as the 2024 holiday reunion in Wilmington, N.C., which raised money for the V Foundation for Cancer Research.