On Monday night, smack in the middle of the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards, fans of The Hills were #blessed to learn that their beloved mid-aughts reality show would be rebooted as The Hills: New Beginnings, premiering sometime in 2019. The announcement came shortly after several former cast members, including Spencer Pratt, Heidi Montag, Audrina Patridge, and Justin Bobby Brescia — not wearing combat boots to the beach VMAs, strangely enough — reunited on the red carpet and teased the big mid-show announcement. Unfortunately, though, every rose has its thorn, and the happy news of a The Hills reboot has since been ever-so-slightly diminished by reports that neither Lauren Conrad nor Kristin Cavallari, two of the show's biggest stars, will be returning for New Beginnings.
L.C., who didn't attend the VMAs, will reportedly be skipping the reboot to focus on her many other priorities, according to People. "She's in a different place in her life," a source told the outlet. "But she wants everyone to enjoy themselves. She wishes everyone the best." The insider added, "She loves being a mother and focusing on her family and on her work. She has a very full and happy life." Indeed, in the nine years since she left the show, Lauren has launched her own clothing line at Kohl's, published several books, co-founded nonprofit marketplace The Little Market, and welcomed 13-month-old son Liam with husband William Tell. In short, she wants to forgive her Hills frenemies, and she wants to forget them.
Though Kristin has actually expressed interest in getting the gang back together, she also passed on attending the VMAs and participating in the reboot. Her reported excuse also makes a lot of sense: Per People, she's not allowed to participate in another reality show since she's currently mid-contract with E! for Very Cavallari, which follows her in her marriage to retired football star Jay Cutler and as the head of her jewelry and home brand, Uncommon James. "She can't do the show because she has a contract with E!" another source told People. "But she's still close with Heidi and Spencer and is excited for them."
But don't worry, because plenty of other former cast members have already signed on to the new show. According to Us Weekly, familiar faces on New Beginnings will include Heidi, Spencer, Audrina, Justin Bobby, Whitney Port, Jason Wahler, and Stephanie Pratt. Additionally, an unnamed "celebrity" has also reportedly been added to cast, as well as two "bloggers." For this squad, at least, the rest is not as unwritten as we previously thought.
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