Amazon Freevee, Prime Video and Fremantle have today announced that a new character will be joining the cast of the long-running Australian soap opera Neighbours.
US actress Mischa Barton, best known for her roles in The O.C. and Invitation to a Murder, will be joining the show as a guest star for the upcoming season. Barton will play the role of Reece, an American who is new to Erinsborough and not quite who she appears to be.
“Neighbours” executive producer Jason Herbison expressed his excitement over Barton’s casting, saying that the character of Reece is “dynamic and unpredictable” and will have an “instant presence” on 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 also expressed her enthusiasm for the role, saying that she was excited to be a part of the iconic show’s next chapter and to be back in Australia, a place she knows and loves.
“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.”
Mischa Barton has an impressive career spanning over two decades, with notable roles in film, television and stage productions. She is a passionate storyteller and has lent her voice and support to several charitable causes. Her upcoming projects include the murder mystery thriller Invitation to a Murder, due for release this autumn.
The new chapter of Neighbours officially started production yesterday in Melbourne and will launch later this year. The series, which follows the lives of the residents of Ramsay Street in Erinsborough, has been on the air for over three decades and has launched the careers of several household names, including Margot Robbie, Kylie Minogue, Guy Pearce and Russell Crowe.
The revitalised series will premiere for free, exclusively on Amazon Freevee in the UK and US and will also stream on Prime Video in Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Network 10 will retain first-run rights in Australia, with episodes available ad-free on Prime Video in Australia seven days later. Previous seasons of Neighbours and iconic episodes are currently available to stream on Prime Video Australia.
