Oct 24,2011
Spoiler TV: James Lafferty returns for series finale
Posted by Amanda with 28 Comments
Zap2it can now exclusively report that Lafferty has reached a deal with the studio and will be returning to North Carolina to be part of the final episode of the series.
Due to Lafferty’s reduced role this year, his scenes for the entire season were pre-written. He was able to shoot all of his scenes in a four-week block over the summer to free up time for other projects and commitments.
At that time, he did not film any scenes for the series finale, leaving us hanging as to whether or not we would even see Nathan in the last episode of the series. As long-time fans of the show, we’re thrilled (and, frankly, relieved) that Nathan, Haley, Brooke, and the rest of the gang will be together one last time before we say goodbye. The finale will shoot in early November
via One Tree Hill – Season 9 – Casting News – James Lafferty returns for series finale | Spoiler TV.
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well not the whole gang bc hilarie isnt coming back which i think sucks
I always knew he would be there! Everyone was saying James wouldn’t be in the finale, I never believed that rumor. Thanks for posting Amanda.
That is right… still no hilarie
but it is most of gang and that makes me happy. best we can do i guess!! 
@Alex you’re welcome!!
Does anyone know if Mia/Kate will be in the series finale?
Is Chad going to be in the finale?
Not all of the “originals” will be in the sereies finale – as some have already pointed out Hilarie Burton wont be and I wonder if Chad will be? I am glad that James is making a return for the last episode, it is only right that he should but I cant help feeling that the fans are going to be disappointed if Hilarie is not there! I know I will be!
I am still mad that they couldn’t/try to get EVERYONE back. It started with Hilarie, Chad, James, Bethany, and Sophia and I wish it would have ended with them. I know schedules and all that play a part but I wish they would have figured out away. I’m still wondering if they ever ask Hilarie back.
I had no doubt at all he would be back!! James wouldn’t do that. Yay James! Too bad we won’t get Peyton back too.
Honestly, if James didnt have the time due to other committments I think he wouldnt have signed up to return for the last episode and I have no doubt on that score! I appreciate that he may be “loyal” to the show but so are the rest of them, ie Chad and Hilarie. Chad has returned because he simply has the time to do it and I think the reason why Hilarie has not returned is because her work schedules are too busy because I think if they were anything other than that she would definitely have returned for at least one episode. I am still hoping against hope that they will get her back for at least one scene!!! Its quite strange because she was in Wilmington last week SoGo!
I am soo relieved! I had to have James in the finale or i would have been crying my eyes out during the episode in pure agony and heartbreak. I know i ma being a little bit dramatic but this show i will miss sooooooooooooooo much! I don’t even want to think about the cast filming the finale in November :’( And i just really wish that we could have had the ORIGINAL CAST in the final episode only. Who knows? maybe the writers could work something out…I am only hoping and praying. Love OTH <3
It did not start with Sophia.
She (Sophia) was added after the original unaired pilot and after the reedited pilot.
I hear you @bridget! It just doesn’t seem right to end this show with Brooke and Julian as the “it” couple of OTH! No one can take away the history that Leyton or Naley have and yet all the focus for the perfect ending is geared toward Brullian. I am still hoping that Hillarie comes through. I don’t believe they started to film the last episode yet. Finger crossed!
I believe they have just started 12. Give them roughly a week and they should be filming episode 13.
I understand that they may want to end it with “Brulian” but that isnt the couple that started the story, Sophia/Brooke wasnt even in it at the start, Brooke was only introduced into the story after they decided to make the pilot into a series so it looks like they are not ending the show with the true originals!!!
hopefully james won’t ruin the finale with his horrid acting and he’ll try not to look bored
I will start by saying I would love to have all the original 5 back for the series finale.
But just beccause Sophia missed the pilot episode does not mean she should be downgraded or her character is less important then the others at the end. Sophia anbd Joy are the only two that have fully stuck with the show to the end. After Chad/Hilarie left they signed on again, even this season they signed on again full time when James signed on part time. So we owe big props to those two ladies for sticking it out for our show, when they simply could have said no twice before and we would have ended in season 6 or season 8. Thanks to them we get our season 9 with a proper farewell.
The final scene should not be about a couple anyways. If we have the originals back it should be either the core 5, nathan/lucas, or everyone including the kids. If not we could have Brooke, Haley, and Nathan going talking about past memories through either a photoalbum or highschool yearbook and thats when it fades to black and we get a montage of scenes from the past.
It would be great if the last scene was a group scene so no one would feel left out.
but saying sophia shouldn’t be in the final shot because she wasn’t in the pilot is not fair.
if i follow this logic, i could say that sophia should be the only one in the final shot because at the end of the series she will be the only cast member that has been in the most episodes.
No one is saying Sophia shouldnt be in the final shot – where is this coming from? All was said was that she was not in the very first pilot episode and fans that watched it from the start know that. Also, Sophia may have been in the most episodes but that doesnt qualify her to be the only one or even be in the final shot! The only reason why Sophia and Joy signed up again and again is that they were happy with the contracts they were given, Chad and Hilarie were not, hence the reason why they did not return after season 6! The true reason for them not returning has never really been explained to anyone and I dont think its anyones business. If they had returned then they would have been the two actors with the most appearances. Anyway, the last episode will have I think a montage of past and present and also future of OTH because thats the way they will want to go out. They may show some old footage of their school days, including Hilarie to make it up to the fans, then they may show old footage of the Ravens and Cheerleaders, they may show some current footage to remind us what is happening now and then they will show some future footage showing them all older and the kids more grown up so that we can envisage ourselves of what their lives would turn out like – its all in our own hands after that and our own interpretation of what their lives will be like. No matter what I do think it will be a very emotional episode and a very sad one so everyone make sure you have the tissue box at hand!!!
Thank God!! It would have totally sucked NOT to have Nathan in the final episode ever of OTH. Bad enough we might not get Lucas. But I’m very, very happy to have Nathan. I’m looking forward to some GREAT Naley scenes. FYI Mark, when I say great, I don’t mean a peck on the cheek or forehead. I mean I want to see the passion between Nathan & Haley that made them the most loved couple on OTH.
I don’t think James will leave us hanging like that. I know he’ll be back for the season finale.
I hope Chad is in the final episode. I somehow think the final scene just be focused around the Scott brothers. Of course the other core cast should be there too, but I think the focus should be the brothers. Sort of like the end of season 4. We’ll have to wait and see…
http://ca.eonline.com/news/watch_with_kristin/ultimate_tv_character_crush_2011_vote/271526
everyone go vote! Nathan, Brooke, and Haley are all in the running!
Where is all this sophia stuff coming from? she wasn’t originally written in until the second or third episode ever but who cares! everybody loves Brooke, well most. I just think we should all agree that we want to see the original cast together one last time. Like Nathan, Haley, Brooke, Lucas, Peyton, Dan,Karen, Whitey, Deb, Kieth as a ghost, and maybe Jake you know. Let’s all just pray cuz in reality that’s all us fans want, is to see the people that made this show what it is without any interuptions from unecessary characters!
I think the last scene of the series should be on the river court…Luke, Nathan, Haley, Brooke, and yes even Peyton, and them reflecting on their lives…heck even throw Chase, Mouth, Skills, Bevin and Rachel in and it will be just like they said at the end of season 4. But really, for me, I think that is where the series should end, back at its core. That place was a big part of the relationships we saw formed over the series….just a thought.
lol at comment #15. I was thinking the exact same thing.
@Emily, I voted.
I voted too. Sucks that Haley is up against Jess from The New Girl. I love Haley and BJG but Zoey Deschanel is pretty much the most likeable person on the planet. It’s like being up a against a litter of puppies.
LOL! @annie, I thought the same thing!