“The O.C.” creators met with Emma Stone for Kaitlin Cooper

The new book "Welcome to The O.C.: The Oral History" reveals Kaitlin Cooper almost looked very different.

When Kaitlin Cooper was first introduced in The O.C. pilot, Marissa's (Mischa Barton) younger sister was played by none other than Shailene Woodley. But two seasons later, when the series decided to reintroduce the somewhat non-existent character — and to age her up — they had to find a new actress to take on the role. And so the hunt for Mini Cooper began.

In the new book Welcome to The O.C.: The Oral History, series creator Josh Schwartz and executive producer Stephanie Savage team up with writer Alan Sepinwall to look back on the series — and at that particular casting. "We saw quite a few people for that," Savage recalls. "We saw Hayden Panettiere, we saw Britt Robertson. Lily Collins."

They even saw an Oscar winner. "We had a meeting with Emma Stone," Schwartz reveals, with Savage adding that Stone looked a lot like Melinda Clarke, who played Julie Cooper. But ultimately, Schwartz says Stone "felt green in that moment."

As fans know, the role ultimately went to Willa Holland, who shook things up from the very first moment she stepped foot on the Cohens' doorstep.

For more, Welcome to The O.C.: The Oral History is out now.

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