Fans of The OC may want to ditch sunny California climes for the fictional Australian town of Erinsborough, as Mischa Barton is joining the hit soap opera Neighbours.
The US star, best known for playing Marissa Cooper in the smash teen drama of the 00s, has been confirmed as a guest star in the new season of the soap, which will air on Amazon Freevee. She said: “I’m excited to be part of this iconic show’s next chapter, and I am really looking forward to being back in Australia – a place I know and love!”
Jason Herbison, Neighbours’ executive producer, said: “We are beyond excited to have an actor of Mischa’s calibre join us for this exciting new chapter. Mischa’s character is dynamic and unpredictable, and will have an instant presence on Ramsay Street. Our loyal viewers are going to love her, locally and abroad.”
Barton’s casting was confirmed on the first day the beloved soap began filming its new season in Melbourne. Ramsay Street fan favourites such as Alan Fletcher as Dr Karl Kennedy, Stefan Dennis as Paul Robinson and Annie Jones as “Plain Jane Superbrain” were seen celebrating their return to the set.
Lights, camera, action, let's go! 🎥 Brand new #Neighbours is officially in production!!! pic.twitter.com/cOgHSNwjsp
— Neighbours (@neighbours) April 17, 2023
The soap opera drew to a close with what was touted as a “farewell episode” in July 2022 after more than 30 years on air, bringing back numerous stars whose careers were kickstarted by the show, from Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan to Margot Robbie and Guy Pearce.
Although the show’s ratings on UK distributor Channel 5 had been slumping for 14 years – with the finale generating an all-time ratings high of 3 million viewers in the UK – Neighbours was resurrected by Amazon Freevee just three months after it supposedly ended for good.
Pearce mocked the move in December, calling it “a painful reminder that the things we love can be snatched away, never to return … unless Amazon comes in to save the day and makes our finale look like a rather expensive exercise”. He also joked that Robbie should be returned the crate of champagne she reportedly sent the show’s producers. Amazon denies that it had plans in place to reboot the show before the finale aired.
The new series of Neighbours will air later this year.
