Chad Michael Murray Says It's an 'Honor' One Tree Hill Fans Still Care About the Show: 'They've Kept It Alive' (Exclusive)

After all these years, Chad Michael Murray is still amazed by the dedicated One Tree Hill fandom. 

Speaking with PEOPLE exclusively about his new Netflix film The Merry Gentlemen, the actor, 43, reflected on his breakout role as Lucas Scott on The CW series more than two decades ago. 

Though the show wrapped its nine-season run in April 2012, the series still reigns supreme as one of the most iconic teen dramas on television. 

For Murray, the long-running success of the show is all thanks to the fans. 

“This OTH family has grown with us and we've grown with them,” Murray tells PEOPLE of the fanbase. “It's always been their show, it always was, and we've all done it together.” 

Though Murray recognizes all the talented actors on the series, including James Lafferty, Hilarie Burton, Bethany Joy Lenz and Sophia Bush, he adds that the success was ultimately a “team effort” between them and viewers.  

"Without the fans, there is no One Tree Hill, no matter whether we're there making it or not,” he says. “The show would've gone away a long time ago, but they've kept it alive, and it struck a chord with so many people, still today.” 

While the show’s initial fans have grown up with the series, it continues to find new audiences through streaming. To this day, fans still come out in droves to meet the cast at conventions, including FWB Charity Events’ annual charity basketball game in Wilmington, N.C., where the original series was filmed.

“I'm going to conventions, I'm going out and I'll meet people on the streets and you'll see 13-, 14-year-old girls who are just completely in their One Tree Hill phase, and they're just getting started, and they're already sucked in,” Murray says of meeting new fans. 

That continued love of the series has since sparked plans for a potential revival. In late August, original stars Bush and Burton confirmed their plans for a reboot, which they will also executive produce with former costar Danneel Ackles. 

Though Murray’s involvement in the reboot hasn’t been confirmed — he notably exited the original series at the end of season 6 — he is incredibly grateful for the impact his character made on fans. 

“It's wonderful to know that you've done something in your career that has affected so many people on a global scale and to be able to share that experience with them in those moments, it's just an honor,” he says. 

Recently, he opened up to Deadline about the upcoming reboot, noting that he hopes it can happen for viewers. 

“I really want some iteration of this show to come back for the fans,” he told the outlet. “I’ll tell you, whatever iteration of the show comes forward, I want that for the fans. There’s such a brotherhood and a bond between so many people all around the world with us. I’m grateful for that.”

As the cast celebrated the show’s 21st anniversary in September, many stars teased their potential involvement in the reboot as they addressed where their characters might be today.

Though Paul Johansson said he was “done” with his character Dan during a Q&A event held at University of North Carolina Wilmington, Lafferty noted he would be curious to see where his character Nathan would be. 

"I think it would be great if he stayed with Haley and had a family and is all good," Lafferty said, referring to his character's girlfriend and eventual wife, portrayed by Lenz. "I think it'd be cool to see where his agent-ing career is now."

Bryan Greenberg, who played Jake Jagielski, joked that he thinks his character was still facing some legal troubles after Jake was shown going through a lengthy custody battle over his daughter Jenny and other run-ins with the police.

"Jake, I think, is still on the lam," Greenberg said to more laughs. "Hiding out in Panama, playing guitar at a little beach bar waiting for Jenny to come get him. She's grown — she's sending me money."

"I have no idea," he admitted, before teasing a possible revival or reboot. "But maybe we'll find out, because I hear there are maybe things happening."

Though there haven't been any new updates with the reboot, Burton told PEOPLE that she has been working with a female-led team "this go-around."

"What I can say is that this go-around, being able to work with a team of women and look at these stories [and] these characters through a female lens is something that — whether I was doing a reboot or a brand new show or a different movie at this phase in my life, female teamwork is something that is so vital to me," Burton said.