The EastEnders universe is about to get a serious shake-up as a familiar name from the Branning dynasty steps back into the spotlight. Oscar Branning – the son of the infamous Max Branning – is returning to Albert Square, and this isn’t just a nostalgic cameo. This is a full-fledged drama detonator set to explode across Walford during a scorching summer of secrets, lies, and family betrayal.

Oscar, last seen in 2017 during a brief Father’s Day visit, is no longer the innocent boy fans remember. Now 17 and played by newcomer Pierre Moullier, Oscar is returning with fire in his veins and mystery on his heels. A sudden, cryptic phone call pulls Lauren Branning back into her brother’s orbit, and what unfolds from there promises to upend everything the Brannings thought they knew about themselves — and each other.

Executive producer Ben Wadey teases that Oscar’s reintroduction won’t be a gentle stroll down memory lane. “Oscar is very much a Branning,” Wadey said, with a devilish grin that all but guarantees trouble. And if there’s one thing EastEnders fans know, being a Branning means heartbreak, chaos, and skeletons rattling in every wardrobe on the Square.

The fact that Oscar is described as “complex” and “unexpected” should sound the alarm for anyone even remotely familiar with the Branning legacy. This is a family that has endured death, deception, affairs, wrongful accusations, and more. Oscar’s return could signal a fresh start — or ignite the next generation of Branning disasters.

Adding fuel to the fire is the shadowy rumor that Max Branning himself, played by Jake Wood, could also be on his way back to Walford after a four-year absence. Though nothing’s been confirmed, whispers are swirling that Oscar’s return might be part of a wider plan to reestablish the Brannings as a central powerhouse on the Square. If Max does come back — especially alongside his estranged son — viewers can expect emotional carnage, old rivalries reigniting, and unfinished business finally demanding a bloody reckoning.

But what does Oscar really want? His sudden reappearance could mean many things. Is he seeking reconciliation? Revenge? Does he carry new information about Max’s disappearance or another long-buried Branning secret? And more urgently — who was on the other end of that mysterious phone call to Lauren?

Oscar isn’t just a symbol of the past — he’s a ticking time bomb of the future. The showrunners have made it clear that this isn’t a harmless return, but a carefully planned arc meant to stir chaos in the most iconic way possible. And for Lauren, who’s only just starting to find her footing again after years of heartbreak and trauma, Oscar’s arrival could tear open emotional wounds she thought had long since healed.

If Max does return, fans are in for a multi-generational storm of drama. Max’s presence alone would reignite a web of betrayal and manipulation. Add Oscar’s unknown agenda and Lauren’s fragile hope for family stability, and the Branning household could implode from the inside out.

In a show known for explosive comebacks and shocking family confrontations, Oscar’s return might just become the storyline of the summer — not only redefining the Branning legacy, but drawing in new enemies and old vendettas in ways no one could have predicted.

So buckle up, Walford — because when a Branning walks back into town, peace is never an option. 🧨