Brody Jenner in Talks to Join ‘The Hills’ Reboot (Exclusive)

Brody Jenner is in negotiations to join MTV’s reboot of The Hills, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Though he was missing from the Hills cast reunion during Monday night’s MTV Video Music Awards, Jenner, who is now married to blogger and model Kaitlynn Carter, is in talks to join The Hills: New Beginnings. 

During the broadcast, MTV aired a teaser for the show, which will follow original castmembers, their significant others, children and friends living and working in Los Angeles. Hours before the clip made its debut, castmembers Heidi Montag, Spencer Pratt, Audrina Patridge, Jason Wahler, Frankie Delgado, Justin Bobby Brescia and Stephanie Pratt appeared on the red carpet at New York’s Radio City Music Hall. 

Jenner, along with series star Lauren Conrad and her famous foe, Kristin Cavallari, were noticeably absent. Whitney Port was also missing at the VMAs, but she confirmed that she will be part of the reboot in a Tuesday Instagram post.

According to a source close to the revival, “Everybody wants Brody to come back. He was such a big part of the show. It truly wouldn’t be the same without him.”

The reboot has yet to start filming, but it is expected to premiere in 2019. 

Jenner famously dated Conrad on The Hills. Their relationship was a major storyline throughout the show’s six-season run, which concluded in 2010. The pair even filmed an alternative ending for the series finale, which featured Conrad hanging out at Jenner’s apartment — insinuating that they had reignited their romance. It was Conrad’s only appearance on the series since making her exit halfway through season five in 2009.

In an hourlong, 10-year anniversary MTV special, The Hills: That Was Then, This Is Now, which aired in 2016, Conrad admitted that her flirtations with Jenner were all for show. “We had zero chemistry. It always just felt forced,” she said at the time, adding that she let producers “do whatever they wanted” since there was “pressure” to have an onscreen boyfriend.

Fans of the show took to social media to bemoan Conrad’s absence and although she has yet to publicly comment on the reboot, another show source tells THR that Conrad will not be involved. While she has fond memories of the series, she is focused on her work. 

Cavallari — who took over as the lead when Conrad left midseason — previously revealed on Spencer Pratt and Montag’s Make Speidi Famous Again podcast that she would “love nothing more than a Hills reunion,” but her contractual obligations with E! are likely to prevent her from participating. Cavallari currently stars on her E! reality series, Very Cavallari, and also serves as a red-carpet correspondent for the network at major awards shows.

MTV found success earlier this year with another reboot, Jersey Shore Family Vacation, which became the channel’s top-rated series when it premiered in April. Its second season is set to debut Thursday.

Aug. 21, 2:49 p.m. Updated with Whitney Port’s confirmation that she will participate in the Hills reboot.