Will One Tree Hill Survive? James Lafferty Weighs In

One Tree Hill star is ready for the possible end of the show and spills on the rest of season seven

By Jenna Mullins Apr 23, 2010 4:30 PMTags
One Tree Hill, James Lafferty, Bethany Joy GaleottiFRED NORRIS /The CW

As our Save One Show results can attest, the fans still care about One Tree Hill. A lot. But with regulars being cast in new pilots, and no word yet from the CW about the 2010-11 season, One Tree Hill fans are a bit...concerned.

The good news? OTH returns this very Monday with new episodes, and there's still time to prove this series is worth keeping around. (Psst: Tell any friends with Nielsen boxes to watch!)

We just got scoop from James Lafferty (Nathan) himself on where OTH season eight stands, what to expect for the rest of the current season, and why the season finale is taking place in (SPOILER ALERT)...

Utah?!

First, though, here's what James says about the show's chances of a season eight: "I don't want to think negatively, but at the same time it's realistic that it could be our last season. I'm not going to know how I feel until it happens. It's like the end of an era."

But don't start panicking yet, kids! Just because he's being realistic doesn't mean he's already jumped ship. In fact, everyone is all aboard for season eight.

"I'm signed on. Everybody's signed on. It's all ready to go. There's been no conflict on our parts. It's up to the powers that be." So, at least we know that should One Tree Hill be renewed, they can hit the ground running with the same characters. But not exactly the same storylines. James did dish on the rest of the season, and he references lots of "changes" and "decisions."

"Fans can expect obviously to be entertained, obviously to be intrigued," he says of the show's return on Monday. "They're going to see their favorite characters making a lot of important decisions in their lives. That's not to say there's finality to it, but there's definitely things that are going to happen to the main characters that are going to affect the rest of their lives, and if we get a season eight, especially their lives in season eight."

So, things happen and there are decisions. With a crazy, twisty show like One Tree Hill, that could mean anything! This was the show that had a dog eating a transplant heart that was to go to Dan Scott (Paul Johansson), after all. Perhaps Nathan decides to give up basketball to pursue a career in parkour. Or maybe they'll go the musical route, since Glee is so in right now.

"There's some talented musicians on our show. I don't know if you want to see me and Robert Buckley dancing together," James laughs. Um, false. Pretty sure the fans would love to see that.

James also teased that the season finale will find the gang in Utah, which is the location of Julian's (Austin Nichols) film premiere. "That is our season finale, us going to Utah. You can speculate on the reasons why we would be in Utah," James offers. Not to worry, I'm already mapping out an outline of what I think happens. Nathan and Haley decide to have another baby! Right? "I don't know, actually!" he admits with a chuckle. "That's a Mark Schwahn question. Personally, I'm not sure what I'd prefer. Does that mean Nathan has to spend more time at home, does he pursue a different career?" This is why we need a season eight, powers that be! To answer these questions!

One Tree Hill returns Monday, April 26, on the CW.

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