Entertainment
Vanderpump Rules Season 12 to Star a Completely New Cast
Bravo is bringing Vanderpump Rules back for another season — but with a major cast overhaul.
The network announced on Tuesday, November 26, that season 12 will feature Lisa Vanderpump and a new group of “close-knit SUR-vers who are as complicatedly involved with one another as their iconic predecessors.” The new season begins production next year and a premiere date and cast will be announced later.
“What a thrill it is to build on the legacy of this series by doing it all over again,” executive producer Alex Baskin said in a statement on Tuesday. “With profound appreciation for the original group and their iconic run, we can’t wait for the audience to see a dynamic new group of co-workers and friends make their way through life together.”
Vanderpump Rules, which debuted in 2013, started as a spinoff of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and evolved into its own franchise. The show originally followed Vanderpump and the-then staff at her restaurant SUR — Scheana Shay, Katie Maloney, Tom Sandoval, Kristen Doute, Jax Taylor and Stassi Schroeder — as they tried to navigate professional and personal conflict.
“The last 12 years of filming have been an extraordinary run full of laughter, tears and everything in between,” Vanderpump said in a statement on Tuesday. “I can’t thank enough those who have shared their lives. How I love you all. In the restaurant business, one shift always gives way to another. Cheers to the next generation of Vanderpump Rules.”
Over the years, VPR has grown to include Tom Schwartz, Ariana Madix, James Kennedy, Lala Kent, Brittany Cartwright and more. In fact, Vanderpump Rules later inspired its own spinoff, The Valley, which debuted earlier this year.
After a decade of air, Vanderpump Rules became a cultural phenomenon when news broke in March 2023 that Sandoval, 42, and Ariana, 39, ended their nearly decade-long relationship due to his affair with James’ ex-fiancée, Rachel Leviss. While there were more eyes on the show than ever (and the series even earned an Emmy nomination), Scandoval led to a cast divide as some former SURvers were upset Ariana refused to film scenes with Sandoval.
Bravo subsequently decided to take an extended pause before filming season 12. (The only other time Vanderpump Rules didn’t film over the summer was during the COVID pandemic in 2020.)
A source close to production revealed to Us Weekly last month that discussions were “still ongoing” regarding the show’s future. The cast has told Us a similar sentiment for months.
“I feel like we still have a lot of story to tell,” Sandoval told Us. “[But] it’s not up to me. I’m not the EP. I’m not the network. I’m hopeful it continues on. We’re just gonna wait and see what happens.”
Lala had a slightly different take on what was left to capture.
“Let’s just say there’s no more story to tell. Right? There’s only two people to blame for that and that’s Sandoval and Raquel. Ariana, I will always be a cheerleader [for her],” Lala said during an appearance on Jeff Lewis Live that same month. “She was absolutely fantastic on Broadway. I heard she killed it on Love Island. I’ve never watched the show and certainly did not start watching because we were not good.”
Lala confirmed a reconciliation between her and Ariana “will never happen,” adding, “I have no ill feelings about anybody on the show. I think that’s what feels — for the first time — like I am at peace.”
In the aftermath of the pause, many of the cast have moved on to other opportunities. Ariana hosted the sixth season of Love Island USA and returned to Broadway. Schwartz, 42, meanwhile, seemed to film a cameo for Summer House and Sandoval, for his part, will be on season 3 of The Traitors. (The two Toms also announced the closure of their bar, Schwartz and Sandy’s, one day prior to the show news.) Lala and Scheana, 39, made cameos on season 1 of The Valley and are expected to do the same on season 2 alongside Schwartz and Scheana’s husband, Brock Davies.
Vanderpump Rules is currently streaming on Peacock