Mark Schwan, noted producer of One Tree Hill, is no longer attached to the Melrose Place remake. Does this mean the whole project is off?

Dawn Ostroff, president of entertainment for CW, is “in negotiations” with a mysterious someone who’s name has not been released. If all goes well, however, the new Melrose Place could be on TV as early as next fall.

The CW wants the show to be based around 20-somethings, as it was in its first life on TV, but the network definitely wants original cast members involved as well. There’s nothing definite on that end. “We’ve talked about everybody, but we haven’t spoken to anybody yet,” explained president Ostroff.

Melrose Place originally premiered in 1992 just as Beverly Hills, 90210 was rocketing to success. And Ostroff thinks there are a lot of similarities in that first pilot to the ways of today’s world. “The pilot talked about the building being foreclosed on, people not having jobs,” said Ostroff, sentiments which certainly resonant with people of all ages in this modern economy.

In its new life, Melrose will be more obviously L.A. “We really envision the show being stylized, of having that feeling of Hollywood.” Ostroff says they really want to take advantage of the Melrose location for the new old show.

The goal for the new Melrose Place is pretty clear-cut to Dawn Ostroff: “Get them [the audience] emotionally invested in the people, and then do storylines that have twists and turns and surprises that you never suspect.”