Marissa Cooper’s fiery death onThe O.C.still haunts series creatorJosh Schwartzand producerStephanie Savage.
“We were under tremendous pressure to do something with that level of drama,” Savage recalled.
“Killing a series regular came down from the top.
Mischa Barton and Ben McKenzie on ‘The O.C.'.Michael Desmond/FOX
If we wanted a season four, we’d have to do something like that.”
Schwartz said the two continue to regret the decision.
The audience reaction to the shocking death “did not feel good,” Schwartz admitted.
Rachel Bilson, Adam Brody, Mischa Barton, and Ben McKenzie on ‘The O.C.'.Everett Collection
Ultimately it was the reaction you wanted to get out of the audience.
And when we saw the reaction after Marissa died from that audience, it did not feel good."
“Immediately, we had regret at that point.”
