When Chad Michael Murray was despatched the script for “The Merry Gents,” the Netflix film about an newbie all-male musical revue that tries to save lots of Christmas by rescuing an area diner, he gave an “rapid, terrified sure” — largely as a result of he hadn’t executed something that scared him in years. After which he hit the gymnasium.

The texture-good vacation rom-com is a far cry from the bad-boy roles that made the previous teen heartthrob a TV fixture. He first made his mark within the early 2000s, taking on The WB (and its successor, The CW) — first as slick Tristin DuGray on “Gilmore Women,” then slimy Charlie Todd on “Dawson’s Creek,” then lastly, broody Lucas Scott on “One Tree Hill.” He held the function within the quintessential millennial teen drama for 131 episodes.

Since 2000, there hasn’t been a single hole yr in Murray’s résumé. However he’s extra selective than he was once.

“I used to be searching for one thing that didn’t really feel too gratuitous for the place I’m at in my life,” he says of taking over the CTV drama “Sullivan’s Crossing,” which is presently filming its third season. The truth that he wasn’t No. 1 on the decision sheet was a giant plus. “The pack” — his spouse, actress Sarah Roemer, and their three children — travels with him each time he books a gig.

“I wish to be there. I received to be there for my daughter’s first steps. I received to take her trick or treating for the primary time,” he says. “And he or she crushed it!”

And filming in Halifax, Nova Scotia, meant he can “utterly submerge” himself into the neighborhood; he may even coach his 9-year-old son’s soccer group there, which he proudly touts, is heading to the playoffs. (A devoted follower of the Buffalo Payments, Murray is about to government produce a docuseries in regards to the group’s passionate fandom.)

The New York native was additionally able to stretch new muscular tissues as a handyman turned unique dancer in “Merry Gents.” The movie, which debuts on Nov. 20 and likewise stars Britt Robertson because the daughter of the diner’s house owners, toes the road between candy and horny.

“It’s not gratuitous by any means. We threaded the needle on that movie. You go too far and also you’re making one film, you go too underneath, and it doesn’t work in any respect. It’s within the good area the place individuals gained’t really feel unsuitable having it on the TV within the background. It’s the candy spot, and I’m actually pleased with that,” he says. Whereas issues could change down the road, for now, he’s targeted on taking over initiatives in that realm. “In 10 years, my priorities could change, and I’ll say, ‘Alright, children, you’re not watching this film.’ I like this lighter fare for the place I’m at.”

“Merry Gents” is family-friendly, however the trailer definitely impressed some on-line chatter when it confirmed a chiseled Murray performing shirtless onstage, as did the discharge of a promotional calendar of the actor in pinup poses. Reaching the look took effort. To arrange, he jumped into six-hour dance classes 4 instances every week, took on a grueling exercise regime and adjusted his weight loss plan and sleep habits.

“It was a mix of the whole lot from cardio to cyro to nutritional vitamins, dietary supplements and clear consuming. If God didn’t make it, I didn’t eat it,” he says. He additionally discovered from co-star Colt Prattes — “I appear to be a 10-year-old boy subsequent to him,” Murray laughs, — who taught him the way to do “a 3rd of the work and get higher outcomes.”

So, is he a dancer now? Not so quick. Though we are able to’t assist however level out that he additionally did a number of dance strikes in his final Netflix film, “Mom of the Bride.” That was a unique — and really painful — expertise. “That was the morning my again went out. Proper earlier than we have been going to shoot that,” he says. “I had a again brace on and heating pads. It was excruciating!”

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At 43, getting in form wasn’t as straightforward because it was once. It’s a actuality the film touches on when Robertson’s character is changed at her job by somebody youthful. Murray can relate, saying he’s “beginning to” detect indicators of ageism within the trade.

“I can’t, in 1,000,000 years, perceive what it actually looks like. The male versus feminine expectations are utterly completely different,” he says. “It’s a very troublesome factor to cope with. You begin getting grays in, and folks begin speaking. That stuff can get in your head, it might have an effect on you. I can’t think about the load that lots of people do really feel, going by it every day. I’m certain as time continues to maneuver on, and somebody says, ‘What occurred to Chad? Why’d he soften?’ it might have an effect on me.”

Due to the endurance of a few of his most memorable roles, Murray can lean into ageing.

He not too long ago stepped again into the boots of his Ducati-riding character Jake for the sequel to 2003’s “Freaky Friday,” which additionally noticed the return of Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan. “Jamie embodies management and love, and led in essentially the most stunning manner,” Murray says of reuniting along with his co-star. “We have been capable of bounce off one another, and it felt thrilling, nostalgic and a ton of enjoyable.” However will he be singing once more as his fan-favorite character did twenty years in the past? “To be decided. We’ll see what’s within the edit,” he says.

Murray may additionally have an opportunity to revisit his most well-known function. Ever for the reason that melodramatic ending of “One Tree Hill” in 2012, followers have been clamoring for extra.

When information broke {that a} Netflix sequel was within the works, it was reported that Murray wouldn’t be among the many forged. He says he hasn’t acquired any particulars a method or one other.

“You cross that bridge if you come to it. There’s simply no manner that I can inform the longer term, and there’s been no conversations,” he says. “However the fan base is infectious, and if this present does come to fruition, I’m so excited for them to have the ability to undergo this journey — no matter that journey could also be.”

And, he admits, his “Merry Gents’s” character’s title, Luke, “is likely to be a bit of wink and a nod” to his “OTH” function, since that wasn’t the unique title within the script. He additionally performed a personality named Luke in 2019’s “Write Earlier than Christmas” and performed Lucas in 2024’s “Mom of the Bride.”

For his newest function, he notes, “Lucas tends to cross my paths so much, and the title means gentle, so I believed, let’s carry some gentle to the vacations.”