Vanderpump Rules Cast Didn’t Know the ‘Extent’ of Reboot Plans

Katie Maloney, Ariana Madix, Tom Sandoval, Lisa Vanderpump, James Kennedy, Lala Kent, Tom Schwartz, and Scheana Shay.Vanderpump Rules fans might be drinking pump-tinis to deal with the surprise casting shakeup — but the OG cast wasn’t as blindsided by the news.

“The cast found out about the future of VPR on Monday,” a source exclusively tells Us Weekly, which was one day before Bravo announced that the show will return for season 12 with a whole new set of stars.

The insider revealed that “everyone knew something was coming, but to the extent of a reboot no one really knew.”

The original VPR stars were left in the dark about the show’s future after season 11 wrapped earlier this spring, with many stars giving interviews about their hopes to return. As time went on, however, they likely realized things were about to change as sources have explained to Us that the network was never in negotiations with any cast members.

VPR debuted in 2013 as a spinoff of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, following Lisa Vanderpump and the staff at her West Hollywood restaurant SUR. Season 1 starred then-SURvers Scheana Shay, Katie Maloney, Stassi Schroeder, Kristen Doute and bartenders Tom Sandoval and Jax Taylor as they attempted to navigate the ups and downs of both their professional and personal lives.

Over the years, Lala Kent, Tom Schwartz, James Kennedy, Brittany Cartwright and Ariana Madix joined the crew. The success of the show sparked the spinoff The Valley, which premiered earlier this year.

VPR’s popularity and cultural significance hit a fever pitch in March 2023 when news broke that Sandoval, 42, cheated on longtime girlfriend Ariana, 39, with castmate Rachel “Raquel” Leviss (who was previously engaged to James).

The cameras captured the aftermath of “Scandoval” during the end of season 10 and its corresponding reunion. Season 11 continued to document the end of Ariana and Sandoval’s relationship — and how it affected their mutual friends — but it also took a toll on the cast.

Some of the stars grew angry at Ariana for refusing to film with Sandoval after their split, while others iced out Sandoval for months. Bravo subsequently took a pause before jumping back into filming season 12.

“I feel like we still have a lot of story to tell,” Sandoval exclusively told Us in November when asked about the show’s future. “[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.”

While waiting for VPR news, Sandoval and Schwartz, 42, announced on Monday, November 25, that their bar Schwartz & Sandy’s is closing at the end of the year. (The bar received negative press and backlash after Sandoval’s affair.)

The bar closure notice came one day prior to Bravo revealing that VPR will be back with Vanderpump, 64, at the helm. She will be joined by an entirely new group of  “close-knit SUR-vers who are as complicatedly involved with one another as their iconic predecessors.”

“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, November 26. “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.”

VPR season 12 will begin production next year. The cast and premiere date have yet to be announced.

“It’s a mixed bag. But I wouldn’t change a thing,” Katie, 37, wrote via her Instagram Story on Tuesday after the casting news broke “Thank you for the memories and the love the last 11 years.”

Ariana shared her own heartfelt message via Instagram, writing, “Vanderpump Rules, you will forever be that girl 💖 I was up til 4am looking for all the right pics and the right words, but there’s no post or caption that could ever encapsulate everything. I am forever grateful to have been a part of such an incredible cultural phenomenon.”

Jax, meanwhile, teased that VPR dropping the OG cast could mean his former castmates are now available for more cameos on The Valley.

“This isn’t goodbye … more like … see ya soon …. on MY show — but for real this time 😈😂 #TheValley @bravotv,” he wrote via Instagram, referring to the time he called VPR his show in front of Vanderpump.

Vanderpump Rules is currently streaming on Peacock.