Ben McKenzie Says He’d Return for ‘The O.C.’ Revival, Even as a Different Character
Nostalgia for early-2000s teen dramas has never really faded, with fans of certain shows continuing to hold out hope that their favorite casts might reunite decades later. Few series inspire quite as much lingering affection as this particular Fox teen drama, which turned an entire generation’s slang and fashion sense upside down during its original run.
That affection has only grown louder online in recent years, fueled by viral cast reunion memes and persistent speculation from co-stars about whether a full revival could ever actually happen. Now, one of the show’s original leads has added real weight to that ongoing conversation with his most direct comments yet.
Ben McKenzie says he’d be up for a revival of ‘The O.C.,’ though he made clear it would have to happen under the right circumstances. Speaking on Sydney radio station KIIS 1065, McKenzie was asked whether he’d consider returning, potentially as one of the show’s father figures rather than his original character Ryan Atwood, referencing Peter Gallagher’s Sandy Cohen role. He responded, “Sure. Why not?” adding, “Yeah, I think so, under the right circumstances. It was a great show. We had a great time. I learned a lot. I was so young, we were all young,” according to TheWrap.
McKenzie also admitted he wasn’t aware of any serious discussions ever taking place around bringing the show back, framing his comments as genuine openness to the idea rather than confirmation of anything already in motion. When the radio host expressed enthusiasm about seeing him lead a revival, McKenzie matched her energy, responding, “Let’s make it happen!”
McKenzie starred as troubled teen Ryan Atwood across all four seasons of ‘The O.C.,’ which aired on Fox from 2003 to 2007 and became a defining cultural touchstone for teen drama during that era. Since then, he’s gone on to build a varied career, including starring roles in ‘Southland’ and ‘Gotham,’ along with recent work directing his cryptocurrency documentary “Everyone Is Lying to You for Money.”
Elsewhere in the same interview, McKenzie shared a lighter anecdote about showing his 10-year-old daughter Frances the show’s pilot episode, a decision he admitted he came to regret. He recalled forgetting just how much adult content appeared in that very first episode, including binge drinking, smoking, cocaine use, and a threesome, joking that his daughter naturally loved it and wanted to keep watching.
Despite his willingness to entertain a revival, McKenzie’s current schedule leaves little obvious room for such a project right now. Beyond promoting his documentary, he’s also been making guest appearances on his wife Morena Baccarin’s police procedural ‘Sheriff Country,’ all while raising three children together.
That busy plate hasn’t stopped fellow cast members from expressing similar interest in revisiting the show over the years. Co-stars Rachel Bilson and Melinda Clarke have previously discussed the possibility of a reunion or reboot in past interviews, with both actresses indicating they’d be open to it depending on how creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage wanted to approach any potential return.
It’s worth stressing that McKenzie’s comments represent his own personal openness to the idea rather than any official announcement from Fox or the show’s creative team. Still, with an original lead publicly expressing genuine enthusiasm for a comeback, even in a different role than the one that made him famous, fan hopes for an eventual ‘O.C.’ reunion are likely to keep building.
Would you want Ben McKenzie to return for a The O.C. revival, even as a different character?
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