The CW has given a nod to the departures of two actors playing Lucas and Peyton on 'One Tree Hill', and said that 2 new cast will be introduced in the seventh season.
- May 13, 2009
AceShowbiz - The media have been reporting that Chad Michael Murray is a goner from "One Tree Hill" but apparently one more is leaving the show. His on-screen wife, Peyton, is not included in the next season's story and thus Hilarie Burton is also out from the picture.
The CW has confirmed the departures of the two actors to several media outlets, but no formal reason has been given. The characters got married on the Monday, May 11 episode but pregnant Peyton is wheeled to the ER on the next week's episode. Fans of the show will be able to watch Chad and Hilarie, who have been in the show for 6 years, for the last time on the season finale that airs May 18.
Additionally, The CW said that they will compensate the loss with two new characters, which details have not been elaborated further. Austin Nichols, who plays Julian, is also promoted as a regular.
The rumors of Chad and Hilarie leaving the show erupted for the first time in late February when Hilarie posted an emotional video message to fans, saying "...I wish I had creative control over the show, and I don't. But if I did, it would go on for a million years, and Peyton Sawyer would cry for you all the time - because she does that."
Few weeks later Chad, captured by a fan's video during autograph signing, said "They don't want me. I'm not joking" before then encouraging that fans "should do online, is start blogging and being pissed off that they don't want that." Although involved in a negotiation later on, Chad mentioned that the show wanted to save money.
