The Beautiful Life will go on with or without Mischa Barton.
Although reps for The CW and CBS declined to comment, multiple sources are saying that the producers of the upcoming model-centric drama are quietly readying a Plan B in light of the troubled actress’ current medical woes.
Said plan involves a new female character to fill the void left by Barton. While it would not be a direct recast, a new recurring character would bear a striking resemblance to Barton’s experienced supermodel, Sonja Stone.
Production on The Beautiful Life, originally scheduled to begin on July 22, was pushed back a week – but not because of Mischa Barton.
Per a spokesperson for The CW, the show’s sets were not ready for their close-up. Good cover story, guys. We like the creativity at least.
Production on the series now set to resume the last week of July, with the show’s premiere still on schedule for a Wednesday, September 16 pilot.
Barton was hospitalized last week after the former star of The OC personally called the L.A.P.D., which responded to her unspecified health problem.
Reports that she is coked up and suicidal and placed under involuntary psychiatric hold at an L.A. hospital have not been confirmed by her reps.