CW's Melrose Place Redo Ramps Up

After months of rumors, network greenlights pilot episode of '90s remake

By Gina Serpe Feb 24, 2009 4:00 PMTags
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Prime time just got a little soapier.

As we've been reporting for months, CW honchos have been positioning Melrose Place to follow in the footsteps of 90210 and be resurrected for a new generation of teenyboppers. Now, the network has greenlighted a pilot of the revamped Aaron Spelling classic.

The remake will follow the original formula and chronicle a group of twentysomethings dwelling in Los Angeles' perpetually trendy Melrose neighborhood.

Aside from Jennie Garth's preemptive announcement that she would not be joining the cast's recycled ranks, there has been no word on casting. But an Oscar-credentialed director has been hired, according to the Hollywood Reporter, who has ties to none other than erstwhile Melrose dweller Billy Campbell.

Davis Guggenheim, who directed and won an Oscar for An Inconvenient Truth, will helm the pilot episode. Married to Elisabeth Shue, Guggenheim boasts the added bonus of being brother-in-law to Billy Campbell himself, Andrew Shue.

While there's no word on whether Shue would consider revisiting his old stomping grounds, other more shameless Melrose Place alum have not been shy about expressing a desire to reprise their original roles.

Sources told E! News last year that Heather Locklear is being courted by the CW, while both Lisa Rinna and Grant Show have publicly made their cases.

There's no word yet on when the pilot will go into production.