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Max Branning is coming home — and it’s already messy.
Jake Wood’s long-anticipated return to EastEnders is officially on the books, with a brief reappearance expected this autumn and a full-time comeback confirmed for later this year. But before Max even sets foot back in the Square, his presence is being felt — thanks to the quiet but loaded return of his teenage son, Oscar Branning (now played by newcomer Pierre Moullier).
🧨 Chaos Incoming
Executive Producer Ben Wadey isn’t sugarcoating it:
“Max has a lot of unfinished business… many Walford residents will not be pleased to see him.”
And who could blame them? From broken hearts and betrayal to one of EastEnders’ most tragic rooftop moments, Max’s legacy is layered — and volatile.
Jake Wood is eager to step back into the drama:
“I’m over the moon to be stepping back into Max’s shoes,” he told Digital Spy. “He’s a character with so much chaos and contradiction — and so many people in Walford with good reason not to trust him. It’s the right time to bring him back.”
👀 Oscar: A Branning Reborn?
While Max remains offscreen (for now), Oscar is already making moves in Walford — and fans are paying close attention. Now a teenager, Oscar has reappeared with an intensity that suggests more than just a family visit. Actor Pierre Moullier brings a subtle sharpness to the role, hinting at deeper emotional undercurrents.
“Oscar has grown up in the shadow of Max’s choices,” Moullier shared in a BBC feature. “He’s not here to cause trouble — but he’s also not here to pretend everything’s okay.”
The fan reaction? Immediate and electric.
“Oscar’s scenes are giving serious slow-burn tension,” one viewer posted on X.
“He’s like a mirror of Max — but with the brakes on. For now.”
Another added: “If they build this right, Oscar could become a new-generation Branning heavyweight. Quiet. Clever. Dangerous.”
🔮 What Happens When Max Returns?
Oscar’s arrival is just the beginning. With Lauren engaged to a Beale, Stacey is now widowed, and Linda quietly haunted by secrets, Max is set to land in the middle of an emotional minefield. And with Oscar already carving out space in the Square, that father-son reunion could either rebuild — or explode — what’s left of the Branning legacy. Anything could happen. Will Max step in and buy the Queen Vic as a legacy for Annie. Will the Branning brothers go into the landlord business together, as landlords to the Square’s landmark pub?
“I’m sure there will be plenty of chaos,” Wood teased. “And I can’t wait.”
Neither can we.
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