Amazon Freevee, Prime Video and Fremantle revealed today that actress Mischa Barton will be joining the cast of the Australian soap opera, “Neighbours”.
Barton, best known for her role as Marissa Cooper in “The O.C.”, will be taking on the role of Reece, a mysterious American who arrives in Erinsborough with a secret agenda.
Executive producer Jason Herbison expressed his excitement for the new addition to Ramsay Street.
“With “Neighbours” launching on Amazon Freevee in North America, we are beyond excited to have an actor of Mischa’s calibre join us for the beginning of this exciting new chapter. Mischa’s character is dynamic and unpredictable and will have an instant presence on Ramsay Street. Our loyal viewers are going to love her, locally and abroad.”
Barton herself shared her enthusiasm for joining the iconic soap.
“I’m excited to be part of this iconic show’s next chapter, and I am really looking forward to being back in Australia, a place I know and love! I think the character of Reece is going to be a great role for me to explore and play with,” she said.
Barton’s career spans over two decades, with roles in films such as “Lawn Dogs”, “The Sixth Sense”, and stage productions like “Twelve Dreams” and “One Flea Spare.”
Production for the new chapter of “Neighbours” kicked off yesterday in Melbourne and is set to launch later this year.
The series will be available exclusively on Amazon Freevee in the UK and the U.S., with Prime Video streaming in Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Network 10 will continue to hold first-run rights in Australia, with episodes available ad-free on Prime Video seven days later.
The long-running soap series helped launch the careers of notable actors like Margot Robbie, Kylie Minogue, Guy Pearce, and Russell Crowe.