Jason Priestley is looking forward to returning to CW’s 90210 — as director! “It’s going to be a lot of fun to work over there and work with those guys,” he said Friday on Ryan Seacrest’s KIIS-FM radio show. Priestley — who directed 18 episodes of the original series on Fox — has just one wish before he steps behind the camera. “I just hope Jennie’s in the episode — or Shannen’s there,” he told Seacrest, referring to stars Garth and Doherty. “Rob Estes and I have been friends for a long time. It’ll be fun.” Does he keep in touch with any of his former 90210 co-stars? “I talk to Jennie all the time,” he said. “We’re actually neighbors. She’s having a really good time over there.” Priestley — who has appeared on some shows, including the short-lived CBS comedy Love Monkey — said it’ll take a whole new role before he goes back on camera again. “In the last two series I’ve done I sort of played tertiary characters,” he said. “In the next show, I need to carry the freight a little more. That’s where I need to be.”

Yeah, Jason Priestley hasn’t really had great success in front of the camera on any other TV series since his BH, 90210 days. Altho I kinda liked him on the short-lived series Tru Calling (which starred Eliza Dushku), he will always be Brandon Walsh to me … whether he’s in front of the camera or behind. Hopefully having him back on the 90210 set will get him inspired to take on the role of Brandon Walsh again … my money says that he will re-Brandonify in front of the camera once again.

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Beverly Hills’ original side-burned heartthrob is back! Sort of. Jason Priestley has agreed to do an episode of The CW’s 90210 later this season, but you won’t see him — he’ll be behind the camera, working as a director. Sources confirm to EW.com’s Michael Ausiello exclusively that Priestley will helm this season’s 18th episode, which is slated to air this spring. Meanwhile, a 90210 insider also reveals that Priestley’s TV sis, Shannen Doherty, is nearing a deal to return for two more episodes later this season. Executive producer Gabe Sachs would only confirm that she’s “in talks,” but my 90210 spy insists “she’s coming back. The deal isn’t officially done, but it’s happening.” Might one of Doherty’s two episodes be the Priestley-directed installment? Sachs says that’s TBD. “I think it would be a kick for Jason to work with any of his [former 90210 costars], and it would also add something special to that episode,” he says. “But we don’t know whether that will happen yet.” A more likely scenario has Priestley bossing around his other leading lady, Jennie Garth, who’s back for at least six episodes — despite what the actress herself told Ausiello at EW’s pre-Emmy party last month. “That was a misunderstanding,” whispers a source.

Woot! Any news that involves of the BH, 90210 alums to return in any way, shape or form to the new world of 90210 is great news. Knowing that Jason Priestly is amenable to returning as a director means that he may be willing to reprise his role as Brandon Walsh … which may lure, mebbe, Luke Perry to return as Dylan McKay (who, whether he likes it or not, already figures very importantly in the new version of 90210 as Kelly Taylor’s babydaddy). I really don’t understand the hesitation on the part of the male actors from BH, 90210 that is keeping them from running back to reprise the roles that made them very famous but … mebbe they’re playing hard to get? In any event, I am very much looking forward to Shannen Doherty’s return later on in the season (I mean, you KNEW she was comin’ back). Now, if they could only figure out a way to get Tori Spelling back as Donna Martin … that would rule all. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we may, one day, have a great West Beverly High Class of 1993 class reunion, doesn’t that sound like the most awsomest idea ever?

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Bad news “90210” fans, it seems Jason Priestley will not be returning to the halls of West Beverly as blue-eyed man candy Brandon Walsh, in the new version of the show. “I think I sort of ran the gamut with Brandon — 249 episodes” Priestley told “Access Hollywood” on Thursday, while promoting the episode he directed of ABC’s “The Secret Life of the American Teenager.” “I think Brandon did his time.” Priestley confirmed he had been asked to reprise his role as Brenda Walsh’s twin brother on the CW’s version of “90210.” While he declined the offer, he may return behind the scenes — as a director. “They’re talking to my people about seeing if they can slot me in over there,” he said. “I directed more episodes of ‘90210′ than anybody. I directed 18 episodes.” With his former co-worker Jennie Garth set to return and Shannen Doherty in talks to head back to Beverly Hills, Priestley was excited by the idea of potentially directing his old castmates. “That would be fun! That would be a ton of fun,” Priestley enthused. “That would be awesome to see.”

HMMM. I just don’t understand the mentality that “Brandon did his time”. I can’t believe that Jason Priestley wouldn’t be up for doing a cameo or two on the show. There seems to be this erroneous belief that the old BH, 90210 characters are being asked to fully reprise their roles for the duration of the show — the new show is not about them. The alums will prolly show up in an ep or two and that’s that. Folks expecting the new 90210 to be a high school reunion of the old gang are going to be disappointed. I just don’t understand Jason’s refusal to tape a cameo or two (that is, unless he wasn’t really asked and is just trying to save face). That being said, Jason Priestly was on the original show for many, many years (well past the show’s prime, I might add) … I *guess* I can *kinda* see his point, if true, of not wanting to step back into those shoes. I’m not a huge Jason Priestley fan or anything but I do think it’d be cool to see him pop up on 90210 again. Additionally, there has been ZERO talk about Luke Perry reprising his role as Dylan McKay, Ian Ziering reprising his role as Steve Sanders or Brian Austen Green reprising his role as David Silver — tho he stands the best chance at making an appearance on the spin-off … David Silver is married to Donna Martin (Tori Spelling’s character) and she is slated to appear on the show. Maybe her hubby will, too? Poor Ian Ziering … his comeback revival might’ve peeked with his appearance on Dancing with the Stars a couple of seasons ago. Couldn’t the new 90210 producers throw the guy a bone? I could buy that Steve Sanders would be sad enough to still want to hang out with the new class of youngsters at West Beverly High … maybe he could work with Nat at the Peach Pit?

[Photo credit: Bauer-Griffin; Source]