Amazon Freevee and Fremantle announced a new character will be joining Ramsay Street in the upcoming season of Neighbours. Mischa Barton (The O.C., Invitation to a Murder) joins the cast as a guest star, playing Reece, an American new to Erinsborough who's not quite who she appears to be.

Jason Herbison, Neighbours' executive producer, said: "With Neighbours launching on Amazon Freevee in North America, we are beyond excited to have an actor of Mischa's caliber 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 shared her enthusiasm as well, and said: "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."

Barton is a versatile actress with a passion for storytelling and an impressive career spanning over two decades. Born in London, England, Barton quickly made her mark in the entertainment industry with her debut film role in Lawn Dogs. From there, she continued to showcase her versatility in a variety of film and television projects, including the hit supernatural thriller The Sixth Sense and the critically acclaimed drama series Once and Again. However, it was her iconic role as Marissa Cooper in the hit television series The O.C. that truly launched Barton to superstardom. Her portrayal of the troubled, yet loveable character resonated with audiences worldwide, cementing her place as a pop culture icon and earning her widespread critical acclaim with critics praising her nuanced portrayal of a complex character. She has appeared in several stage productions throughout her career, including the acclaimed Off-Broadway productions of Where the Truth Lies, Twelve Dreams, and One Flea Spare. Throughout her career, Barton has remained committed to using her platform for good, lending her voice and support to a variety of charitable causes such as Save the Children and One Water. As a champion of independent films, Barton has worked on projects like Papa, Ouija House and The Toybox. She can next be seen starring in the murder mystery thriller Invitation to a Murder due out for release this spring.

The new chapter of Neighbours officially started production today on 17 April, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia and will launch on Amazon Freevee in the autumn of 2023.

The continuation of the long-running soap series - about the lives, loves, and challenges of the residents on Ramsay Street in Erinsborough, Australia, a fictional suburb of Melbourne - follows the finale in 2022, which was watched by millions of adoring fans. The revitalized series will premiere for free, exclusively on Amazon Freevee in the UK and U.S. The series will also stream on Prime Video in Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. Previous seasons of Neighbours, as well as many iconic episodes, are currently available to stream on Amazon Freevee. Additionally, the free streaming service will feature two series-themed FAST Channels on the service, "Neighbours - Looking Back," and "Best of Neighbours."

Neighbours ran for more than three decades, garnering fans across the globe and launching the careers of many household names, such as Margot Robbie, Kylie Minogue, Guy Pearce, and Russell Crowe.Neighbours is produced by Fremantle. Jason Herbison, Neighbours' executive producer since 2013, will maintain his position on the exciting new chapter of Neighbours, with Andrew Thompson returning as producer.