Rachel Bilson is back, and she’s bringing a wave of nostalgia with her. The 42-year-old actress has reprised her iconic role as Summer Roberts from “The O.C.” in a series of new commercials for 21Seeds Tequila. These ads, created by the show’s original creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage through their production company Fake Empire, are a delightful throwback for fans of the early 2000s hit series.
In an interview with Variety, Bilson shared her excitement about the project. “Josh told me about it. I have to start by saying anything that Josh and Stephanie do, I’m always like, ‘Yeah.’ They say, ‘Jump.’ I say, ‘How high?’… When they said we’re going to bring Summer back and they were writing it, of course I’m going to do it because how fun does that sound? Tequila and Summer, come on! She’s obviously drinking her tequila because no Orange County housewife can survive without it.”
The commercials are filled with nods to “The O.C.,” including the iconic theme song “California” by Phantom Planet. The first ad opens with a shot reminiscent of the show’s intro, panning over Orange County from the water. Bilson, as Summer, is seen making cocktails with 21Seeds’ Valencia Orange tequila at a party. When a guest asks, “Is that 21Seeds’ infused tequila?” Summer cheekily replies, “Welcome to the V.O.C, bitch,” a playful twist on a famous line from the series.
In another spot, Summer takes her bartending skills outside to make a Paloma with 21Seeds’ Grapefruit Hibiscus flavor. As they enjoy their drinks, a woman resembling Marissa (Mischa Barton) throws a lounge chair into the pool, echoing a memorable scene from the show. “What’s with her?” a guest asks. “She missed her yogalates class,” Summer quips.
The final ad features a character who looks strikingly similar to Ryan (Ben McKenzie), complete with a leather jacket and white T-shirt. When Summer opens the door and asks, “Who are you?” he responds with Ryan’s iconic line, “Whoever you want me to be,” before delivering a bottle of 21Seeds Cucumber Jalapeño tequila. “Oh! Stay for a spicy marg? It’s delish,” Summer offers, but he declines, saying he has another delivery in Chino, Ryan’s hometown.
Bilson also shared her thoughts on where Summer’s character would be today. “I’m just going to say this for the fans — she’s definitely still married to Seth. They have kids. Let’s paint that picture,” she told Variety. “She’s living her best life. Summer, I feel like she really bloomed over the four years of the show and she just continued that way.”
The O.C. aired on Fox from 2003 to 2007, starring Bilson, Adam Brody, Ben McKenzie, and Mischa Barton. The show followed the lives of teenagers in a wealthy beach community in Orange County, California. It quickly became a cultural phenomenon, known for its dramatic storylines and memorable characters.
In the 2023 book “Welcome to the OC: The Oral History,” Schwartz admitted that he regrets killing off Marissa’s character. Despite this, Bilson expressed her openness to a reunion. “I would always be up for it. But it’s also this thing that people still watch and are still discovering. So do you just leave that special moment as it is? You weigh both sides because obviously it would be fun and I love everybody and it would be awesome to go back and we need to somehow bring Marissa back to life and do the whole thing if we do it,” she said. “But also leaving it for what it was and how special it kind of was, is also a positive.”
The commercials come at a perfect time, as “The O.C.” celebrates its 21st anniversary on August 5. Schwartz expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to revisit the show. “We’re very grateful to 21Seeds for extending the opportunity to revisit our first project together to celebrate its 21st birthday,” he said. “We’re constantly asked about a reunion or where our characters would be now, and this felt like a fun way to hang out with Summer Roberts again.”
With the rise of reboots and revivals, fans are left wondering if “The O.C.” could be next. While Adam Brody has previously shut down the idea of a reboot, Bilson’s enthusiasm for reprising her role suggests that anything is possible. For now, fans can enjoy these nostalgic commercials and dream of what a reunion might look like.
The 21Seeds campaign starring Rachel Bilson officially launched on July 1st and can be seen on various digital platforms, including Hulu, Max, and Peacock. For more information about 21Seeds Infused Tequila and its range of flavors, visit 21SEEDS.com.
Source: Variety, Entertainment Weekly, PRNewswire
