14 DAY TRIAL // Amanda Woodward is back and she’s as mean as ever: CW has just announced that Heather Locklear will reprise her role as the dangerous vixen on its remake of “Melrose Place,” Us Magazine confirms. No word yet on whether this will be just a one-time thing or whether producers plan to keep Amanda for longer, but chances are her stay may be more than just a short “visit.”
“We’re ecstatic to have the chance to bring Amanda Woodward back to Melrose Place. Heather’s involvement in the show is something we’ve been working on for some time as we couldn’t imagine creating and producing this show without the iconic character’s inclusion.” executive producers Todd Slavkin and Darren Swimmer say in a joint statement cited by the aforementioned publication.
For now, the only official information on Locklear’s return is that it will take place on the episode that will air on November 17. However, sources familiar to the show are whispering that producers are actually eyeing a lengthier stay on “Melrose Place” for the 47-year-old actress who made of Amanda a genuine icon. At the moment, though, they still have to see how they can fit her character in the story.
In this sense, Katie Cassidy, who also stars on the CW show, says she can “imagine” Locklear as reprising her role as Amanda as the tough boss of the PR firm where Cassidy’s character also works. If so, then Amanda would become a fixture on “Melrose Place,” which would mean it would be possible for producers to include her in the story for as long as the audience wanted her there. In the meanwhile, Locklear herself is said to be ecstatic about the offer.
“An insider told Us Weekly that Locklear saw a pilot of the show – which stars Ashlee Simpson-Wentz – and ‘was surprised at how much she like it.’ The source said the role is ‘a great comeback’ for the actress, who faced a DUI charged that was later dismissed and sought treatment for anxiety last year. Said the source: ‘She is in great spirits and good shape. This is a perfect time to show everyone how well she is doing.’” Us Magazine writes.