Exclusive: Rob Thomas Confirms He's Making Room for New 90210 Writers

By Kristin Dos Santos Apr 14, 2008 11:29 PMTags
Beverly Hills 90210, Rob ThomasMichael Caulfield/WireImage.com

What could be better than the news of a 9-0 spin off? Hearing that talented Veronica Mars boss Rob Thomas would be the main man behind the new edition, of course! But sadly, inside sources are now saying that Rob is stepping aside in order to focus on his other two pilots, both for ABC. Word is he’ll stay on to consult, but the CW is currently looking for a new show runner to helm the series.

I checked in with Rob earlier today and he confirmed to me that the network is looking for another writer to take a stab at the 90210 pilot script: "I'd do the additional pass, but I'm swamped with the two other projects and ABC has me in first position." 

A source close to the spin-off says that Rob is still committed to the show, and was in casting sessions as late as Friday. However, another insider tells me that production of the series has now been pushed back to summer, and won't begin until a new head honcho has been named.

Gregg DeGuire/WireImage.com

As for Mr. Thomas' two projects at ABC, a remake of his 1998 series Cupid and a dramedy about a family of theives, Rob tells me the possibility of former Veronica Mars star Kristen Bell signing on to star in one of them looks slim, even though she recently told me there is talk of this. Says Rob, "It's not going to happen. Kristen wants to pursue movie interests, though we'd love to work with each other again."

So... you're saying there's a chance?! 

—Additional reporting by Korbi Ghosh