Are we going right back where we started from? It's definitely been a wish The OC fans have been manifesting in the nearly 20 years since the pop culture phenomenon teen drama went off the air. In the past two decades, the beloved Fox series has managed to maintain its relevance, attracting new fans in the streaming era by the sheer force of its nostalgia and enduring quality.
Reboots, revivals, and reunions have continued to be all the rage when it comes to the '90s and '00s television series (and movies) that shaped millennials. While the proposed One Tree Hill revival series might not be getting off the ground, we could be reuniting with The OC's core four in the near future, but not in the way you'd might thing, according to series star Mischa Barton.
Mischa Barton hints that The OC reunion could be happening
Barton walked the red carpet at Marcel Remus Lifestyle Night in Spain where the German outlet RTL caught up the actress and asked questions about The OC. Naturally, the interviewer wondered whether a reunion, not a reboot or revival, could be in the works since the cast has remained in contact over the years and even more recently. Barton appeared to tease something's in the works.
The actress, who played Marissa Cooper for the show's first three seasons, noted that Ben McKenzie and Adam Brody have spent time together and that she appeared on Rachel Bilson and Melinda Clarke's rewatch podcast. Specifically asked whether a reunion, where the cast and crew talk about the series, was in the cards, Barton played coy about a retrospective special coming to fruition.
"There might be a reunion coming up. We'll see," Barton teased. When asked point blank if anything's planned, the actress simply reiterated, "We'll see." It's worth noting that Barton's last "We'll see" had a sing-song inflection and gave the interviewer a sneaky, knowing glance. Whatever she knows about a reunion event that's in the works, she made sure not to let any official details slip.
The OC's 25th anniversary is coming up in 2028
Of course, if there's something developing behind the scenes and Barton's involved in any capacity, we can surmise that, as the interviewer suggested, it won't be some kind of revival. Barton's Marissa was tragically written off the show at the end of the third season, dying in Ryan's arms after a car accident. Marissa no longer exists in-universe, making any kind of possible revival bittersweet.
For the most part, the cast has moved on to new gigs, including Brody's Emmy-nominated turn in Netflix's Nobody Wants This, McKenzie's new book and upcoming role in Netflix's Myron Bolitar, and Bilson's recurring role in the Scrubs revival. Even creator Josh Schwartz has continued to produce new series, like Prime Video's teen drama Sterling Point.
Because of their busy schedules, a revival or reboot doesn't feel like the right move to honor The OC's legacy. A retrospective special with the cast and crew reuniting on camera to share memories and talk about the show is exactly what fans want. As previously mentioned, the series finale's 20th anniversary is coming up in 2027, and the show's 25th anniversary is coming up in 2028.
Honestly, it's never too soon to roll out the red carpet and celebrate The OC's 25th anniversary early, and if plans are already getting in motion to mark the occasion, we should be excited—though cautiously, because nothing has been confirmed. Barton's latest comments about a possible reunion are the biggest indicator we've seen yet that something special could be on the way.
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