Mischa Barton has joined the cast of Neighbors ahead of Amazon’s reboot.
The 37-year-old Hollywood actress, best known for her role as Marissa Cooper in the teen drama The OC, was confirmed as a guest star on Tuesday.
Barton plays Reece, an American who has just arrived on Ramsay Street, but whose identity is “not what it seems.”
Her character is meant to appeal to US viewers as Neighbours, set in the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough, will be shown in the US and Canada on ad-supported streaming platform Amazon Freevee.
“I’m excited to be a part of the next chapter of this iconic show, and I’m really excited to be back in Australia – a place I know and love!” Barton said in a statement.
The OC star Mischa Barton, 37, (pictured) has joined the cast of Neighbors ahead of Amazon’s revival season
“I think Reece’s character will be a big role for me to explore and play with,” she added.
Neighbors executive producer Jason Herbison said: “As Neighbors launches on Amazon Freevee in North America, we are thrilled to have an actor of Mischa’s caliber join us to begin this exciting new chapter.
“Misha’s character is dynamic and unpredictable and will be an instant presence on Ramsay Street. Our loyal viewers will love them, at home and abroad.”
Neighbors fans from Australia and the UK largely welcomed the casting, but some found the decision confusing.
‘OMGGGG! I definitely didn’t have Mischa Barton on my bingo card for 2023 on Neighbours!” one viewer tweeted after the announcement.
“Micha Barton on Neighbours…WTF,” wrote another.
Barton plays Reece, an American new to Erinsborough whose identity is not what it seems
The Hollywood star is best known for playing Marissa Cooper in The OC, which ran from 2003-2007. (Pictured from the cast of OC L-R: Benjamin McKenzie, Rachel Bilson, Mischa Barton and Adam Brody)
Barton began her Hollywood career in 1999 in blockbusters such as The Sixth Sense and Notting Hill.
However, she became an overnight superstar in the mid-century series The OC.
In recent years, she returned to the spotlight by appearing in the first season of The Hills reboot, The Hills: New Beginnings, which has since been canceled by MTV.
Cameras started rolling on Amazon’s revived Neighbors on Monday, and the series should return to screens by the end of this year.
“I’m excited to be part of the next chapter of this legendary show and I’m really excited to be back in Australia – a place I know and love! I think Reece’s character will be a huge role for me to explore and play with,” said Barton
The series airs for free on Amazon Freevee in the UK and US and includes streaming rights to thousands of episodes from previous seasons. The series streams on Prime Video in Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
The sequel to the long-running soap follows the finale in 2022, which was watched by millions of adoring fans.
Georgie Stone (as Mackenzie Hargreaves) and Tim Kano (as Leo Tanaka) will also reprise their roles as series regulars after the show was canceled by Australian broadcaster Network 10 last July.
Cameras started rolling on Amazon’s revived Neighbors on Monday, and the series should return to screens by the end of this year. Pictured are Neighbors Revival cast Alan Fletcher (as Karl Kennedy), Lucinda Cowden (as Melanie Pearson), Rebekah Elmaloglou (as Terese Willis), Stefan Dennis (as Paul Robinson) and Annie Jones (as Jane Harris).
Recurring guest stars include Ian Smith (as Harold Bishop), April Rose Pengilly (as Chloe Brennan) and Melissa Bell (as Lucy Robinson).
Lauren Anderson, head of AVOD original content and programming, Amazon Studios, recently said: “Neighbors has captivated audiences for almost 40 years, building a dedicated and loyal fan base for the lives and stories of the Ramsay Street characters.
“The power of streaming allows us to offer a catalog of thousands of Neighbors episodes, so new viewers can discover this iconic series and current fans can relive their favorite moments.
Bewildered Neighbors fans have since reacted to news of Mischa’s arrival
“We look forward to immersing audiences in new Ramsay Street experiences when we re-launch the show for Amazon Freevee and Prime Video customers next year.”
However, during its impressive 37-year run, the popular series is unlikely to return as daytime programming as before.
British audiences were swept up in nostalgia during an emotional Neighbors final, which saw Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan make an epic comeback, alongside a host of stars including Margot Robbie and Holly Valance who made a final return to Ramsay Street .
The Channel 5 soap first aired in 1985 and has been on screens for 37 years, but in March it was announced that the Australian series had been canceled after 8,903 episodes, with the finale airing in March.
The sequel to the long-running soap follows the finale in 2022, which was watched by millions of adoring fans. (Pictured: Neighbors stars Rebekah Elmaloglou and Stefan Dennis on day one of this week’s Movie Revival season)
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Ashley Root is an author and celebrity journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a keen eye for all things celebrity, Ashley is always up-to-date on the latest gossip and trends in the world of entertainment.
