James Lafferty Talks About Getting Ready for That American Eagle Photo Shoot: 'Shave in All the Right Places' (Exclusive)

Nathan Scott, ahem, James Lafferty, is back on the field.

Lafferty, 38, who played Nathan Scott One Tree Hill from 2003 to 2012 recently returned to his roots in a new campaign for American Eagle, shot on a basketball court.

In the images, which were widely shared on the brand’s social media earlier this month, Lafferty is seen shooting laps and hitting the gym. While in some shots he’s wearing some American Eagle gym gear, in others the actor is stripped down to his boxers, showing off his chiseled physique.

“It’s the oldest story in the world… Back on the field in AE 24/7. @americaneagle #AEPartner,” Lafferty captioned the post he shared on Instagram — a nod to a line from the beloved series.

James Lafferty for American Eagle.

Sergio Garcia/American Eagle

In addition to honoring his One Tree Hill character, the campaign also tied in with a recent Friends with Benefits charity basketball game in which Lafferty and his former co-stars, including Bryan Greenberg, Stephen Colletti and Robbie Jones, played during a reunion weekend in Wilmington, North Carolina, where the series was shot. The campaign went live on the day of the match to raise awareness of the V Foundation’s fundraising assistance.

Lafferty said that participating in the campaign also made him think about his and Colletti’s series, It’s great for everyonewhich was partially inspired by the actors’ subsequent travels One Tree Hill.

“Honestly, this campaign is something my character would do on the show, except he would probably screw it up extravagantly,” Lafferty tells PEOPLE.

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And while the internet was swooning over the photos when they hit social media on May 18, Lafferty was busy celebrating in Wilmington — and says he even ran into a roadblock when he tried to share the post.

“When I left the game and went back to my hotel, I didn’t have any cell service or WiFi and I actually messed up the post,” he admits, explaining that initially the last three photos in the slideshow all contained the same image.

James Lafferty for American Eagle.

Sergio Garcia/American Eagle

The confusion led to some “pretty funny phone calls with my wife and my manager,” he says, though “at the end of the day we were happy there was something to laugh about.”

What made things funnier, he says, was the fact that he was with so many of his former colleagues.

“I took a bit of a beating and it was deserved,” he says, clarifying that it was “in a very kind way”.

– How can you not? he admits.

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Many of Lafferty’s former co-stars took to Instagram to share their reactions with Hilarie Burton, who played his high school girlfriend and eventual sister-in-law on the show, writing, “What the hell is this thirst trap?!?!?! James !!! !!!! Good God. Put a warning on things like this.”

Sophia Bush, Chad Michael Murray, Hilarie Burton, James Lafferty and Bethany Joy Lenz in ‘One Tree Hill’ in 2003.

Warner Bros/Alamy

“Bro, you need to alert the internet when you drop something like this!” colleague OTH wrote alumna Sophia Bush. Bryan Greenberg, who played Lafferty’s basketball teammate Jake Jagielski on the show, wrote: “Damn kid! 😤.”

The stars of ‘One Tree Hill’ reflect on the 20th anniversary of the show’s premiere

Lafferty says he never expected the reaction the photos caused.

“I got into it because it felt like the pieces fit together and of course you always hope that anything you do will be well received,” he says. “I was just trying not to think too much on the road to be honest. I was listening to my photographer Sergio [Garcia] and I just focused on what he told me to do because I’m not a model.”

He adds, “So hit the gym, eat right, shave where you need to and hope for the best.”

1st season Everyone is doing great is available for purchase on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education