Rachel Bilson has long been a staple of comfort television, thanks to her iconic roles in two beloved series. From 2003 to 2007, she charmed audiences as Summer Roberts on Fox's The O.C., part of one of TV's most memorable couples with Adam Brody's Seth Cohen. Then, from 2011 to 2015, she traded Orange County for the quirky Southern town of Bluebell, Alabama, as Dr. Zoe Hart on The CW's Hart of Dixie. Both shows became synonymous with addictive, feel-good storytelling—a genre that continues to thrive today.
Given the ongoing appetite for reboots and revivals, fans have long wondered if either series could make a comeback. Interest spiked recently when Ben McKenzie, who played Ryan Atwood on The O.C., expressed openness to revisiting the role. Now, Bilson has shared her own thoughts in a new interview, and she's clearly ready to return to at least one of her iconic characters.
During an appearance on Collider Ladies Night to promote her upcoming holiday horror-comedy Christmas at the Kringles, Bilson was asked about the reboot potential for both shows. While she admitted she hasn't mapped out specific storylines, she did offer a clear perspective on why each could work in today's TV landscape.
For The O.C., Bilson pointed to nostalgia as the driving force. "I think people love nostalgia, especially right now," she said. "Bring us back to the early aughts, right, and revisiting that era." That sentiment aligns with the current wave of early-2000s throwbacks across pop culture.
However, when it comes to Hart of Dixie, Bilson sees a more practical fit for modern audiences. "It's such a feel-good, cozy show," she explained. "I'm a big fan of cozy, so I think just having a place to escape, like Bluebell, sounds wonderful right about now." Her reasoning echoes the success of similar series like Virgin River and Sullivan's Crossing, which have found devoted audiences by offering warm, small-town escapism.
Bilson's comments come as she returns to the big screen for the first time in over a decade with Christmas at the Kringles. The film follows the Severson family, who move to a seemingly peaceful neighborhood only to discover their Christmas-obsessed neighbors have sinister plans. Ron Livingston, Rob Riggle, Thomas Lennon, and Donald Faison co-star in the holiday horror-comedy, which hits theaters this Friday, October 30.
While fans wait to see if either show gets the reboot treatment, both series remain easily accessible. The O.C. is streaming on Hulu, and Hart of Dixie is available on Pluto TV. For more from Bilson, including her full Collider Ladies Night interview, be sure to check out the video above.
As the entertainment industry continues to mine the past for fresh takes, Bilson's enthusiasm for revisiting Bluebell—or even the early aughts—offers a glimmer of hope for fans of both shows. Whether it's a full reboot or a one-off reunion, the demand is clearly there, and Bilson seems more than willing to answer the call.
