Real reason Chad Michael Murray is refusing to take part in One Tree Hill sequel

Chad Michael Murray has no plans to star in the upcoming One Tree Hill sequel as he has zero desire to work with his ex-wife Sophia Bush, insiders claim.

Bush and her fellow costar Hilarie Burton, both 42, confirmed in August that a new series is in the works for Netflix - with the pair both serving as executive producers.

The hit series, which ran from 2003 until 2012, was famed for a number of explosive storylines - but equally as dramatic were the real life fall outs behind-the-scenes, including Murray and Bush's acrimonious divorce. 

The 2005 split proved so divisive that Murray, 43, does not wish to reunite with, or work for, his estranged ex on the upcoming project, with insiders claiming no amount of money could tempt him.   

'There’s no love lost between Chad and Sophia,' an insider told DailyMail.com. 'They’ve both moved on in their personal lives since divorcing.'

Bush and Murray officially started dating in 2003 and tied the knot in 2005 in Santa Monica.

They celebrated at Hotel Casa del Mar with their friends and family, but shocked fans when they split just five months later.

It was rumored at the time that Murray had stepped out on their marriage with none other than his House of Wax costar Paris Hilton.

Bush attempted to get the marriage annulled, citing fraud, but her efforts were unsuccessful, and the divorce was ultimately finalized in 2006.

'This is a difficult and unfortunate situation. I am glad this is being resolved sooner rather than later,' she said in a statement shared with PEOPLE at the time.

Awkwardly, the pair still had to work together on the show while dealing with the separation.

Murray left One Tree Hill in 2009 after six seasons playing brooding basketball player Lucas Scott, who was embroiled in a complicated love triangle with Bush's Brooke Davis and her best friend Peyton Sawyer, played by Burton.

'Sophia attempted to have their marriage annulled, citing fraud, but she was denied,' the source continued. 'The last thing Chad wants or needs is to work with, or for, Sophia. 

'With her producer credit it means she’d be his boss. No amount of money would get him to agree to go back.'

The actor has been coy about any potential involvement when pressed during the promotional trail for his new Netflix Christmas movie, simply claiming that he is excited for fans. 

In an interview with Deadline, he said: 'I really want some iteration of this show to come back for the fans. I’ll tell you, whatever iteration of the show comes forward, I want that for the fans. 

'There’s such a brotherhood and a bond between so many people all around the world with us. I’m grateful for that.'

In a separate chat with The Hollywood Reporter, Murray explained that he had not been contacted about the project.

Explaining how he reacted to the news, he admitted that he got on the phone with his costar James Lafferty - who played his half-brother Nathan Scott.

'We’re not doing it because no one’s ever picked up the phone and said, "Hey, we’re doing this," so we’re not doing it,' he told the publication.

In the years since Murray left OTH, he has had several public clashes with his ex-wife about the struggles in their marriage.

In 2018, Bush, who was 22 when they tied the knot, sparked controversy when she claimed that she had been too young to make the decision to marry and said she felt 'pressured' to go through with it.

Speaking on Andy Cohen's SiriusXM radio show she said that 'everybody's 22 and stupid,' and added that the marriage was 'not a thing I actually really wanted to do.'

She recalled how she allowed herself to be talked into the union, telling Cohen: 'Because how do you let everybody down? And how do you - what's the fight?

'And when you have bosses telling you that you're the only person who gets a person to work on time, and 200 people either get to see their kids at night or they don't, because our days start on time.

'What the public knows ever is never - it's not the tip of the iceberg.'

She said she and Burton 'used to laugh, and we were like: "If we had a behind-the-scenes show, the drama would be so much f***ing better than the drama that the writers write.'''

In a statement to People, Murray's rep fired back and said that the 'story is ludicrous.'

'Chad conducts himself in a completely professional manner and would never marry for any reason but love,' the rep continued. 'Thirteen years since his divorce from Sophia, he has a very happy family life with his wife and children.

'He has completely moved on and doesn't feel the need to engage in this type of behavior.'

The incident led Bush to announce that she would never speak about her ex again during an 2021 interview on Smallville alum Michael Rosenbaum's podcast, Inside of You.

'Oh, I'm not going to talk about him,' she said at the time. 'I'm not allowed to because I've tried to poke fun at being a dumb kid and whenever I've done that, it gets twisted into I'm talking s**t about somebody who I don't even know anymore, who's clearly a grown-up.

'I think you have to laugh at who you used to be but when people ask me about history that involves someone else…it's not worth my time. It's not a place where I harbor ill will or anything.'

When Rosenbaum added that it also can't 'come out right,' Bush agreed and added:  'It never does! And I've tried to like, you know, do the thing where when I get stuck live on the air—which has happened to me twice—getting asked about it where I give a little...like jazz hands quip and move on. It just doesn't work, so I'm not going to.'

Murray went on to marry actress and model Sarah Roemer, 40, who is best known for her role in the movie Disturbia starring Shia Labeouf. 

Bush is currently in a relationship with former soccer player Ashlyn Harris following her divorce from entrepreneur Grant Hughes. 

Murray is currently gearing up for his new Netflix holiday film, The Merry Gentlemen, in which he strips off, much to the delight of fans.

The actor plays a member of an all-male Christmas themed revue.

The film also stars Britt Robertson as Ashley, a former big-city dancer who forms the revue in order to save her parents' quaint performing venue.