Lisa Vanderpump Says Vanderpump Rules Reboot Will Go Back to ‘Grassroots,’ Says New Cast Will Be ‘Refreshing’ (Exclusive)

Lisa Vanderpump is ready for new beginnings at SUR.

Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE at a media breakfast following the grand opening of her newest restaurant, Pinky’s by Vanderpump, in Las Vegas on Dec. 6, the Bravo star, 64, opened up about her recent Vanderpump Rules cast shakeup.

Lisa Vanderpump Says ‘It’s All Fashion’ at Brand New Pinky’s Restaurant in Las Vegas (Exclusive)

“I always say expect the unexpected when we talk about it Vanderpump Rulesfor sure,” the reality star told PEOPLE.

“When you put a group of young people together and there’s that nucleus — the restaurant — they actually have to work together. It’s always restless, it’s always complicated,” she said.

Vanderpump Rules Season 7 VANDERPUMP RULES — Season:7 — Pictured: (l-r) Lala Kent, Stassi Schroeder, Tom Sandoval, Kristen Doute, Ariana Madix, Lisa Vanderpump, Tom Schwartz, Katie Maloney-Schwartz, Jax Taylor, Brittany Cartwright, James Kennedy — (Photo credit: Tommy Garcia/Bravo)

Her comments came after news broke that Bravo will begin Season 12 of the hit television series with all-new faces after the network decided to ditch the original cast that fans have grown to love as staff at Vanderpump’s West Hollywood restaurant.

“So I think we’re going back to basics and having a different set of people is something new and refreshing,” Vanderpump told PEOPLE. “I think we’ve brought out the last 11 years, I’m not discounting how successful they’ve been and how wonderful they’ve been as reality stars because they came into it really green and then kind of ran away with it. So we’ll see. But I try never to disappoint.”

Vanderpump Rules Season 12: Everything We Know So Far About The Bravo Reality TV Show’s Reboot (Including The Only Returning Cast)

This does not mean that the mogul has completely parted ways with her chosen family of more than a decade.

Tom Schwartz, who has been a familiar face since the show’s inception before becoming a regular cast member in season three, attended the grand opening of Pinky’s. Peter Madrigal was also present.

Lisa Vanderpump and Tom Schwartz, Pinky’s by Vanderpump Grand Opening, December 2024

Denise Truscello/Getty

During the performance at Show Domenic Nati earlier this month, the manager of SUR, 40, claimed that he would be the only original cast member to return for the reboot.

“The one that’s still there is yours truly,” Madrigal said during the interview.

Bravo did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for confirmation at the time, but the network typically does not comment on casting.

Vanderpump Rules Season 1

Tommy Garcia/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Vanderpump Rules‘ original cast included Stassi Schroeder, Jax Taylor, Kristen Doute, Scheana Shay, Tom Sandoval and Katie Maloney. Others like Ariana Madix and James Kennedy came in later seasons.

Vanderpump said Party tonight in an interview published on Tuesday, December 10, she has already chosen her new SURverses.

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“I have an existing group,” she said. “But there’s always room for people because it’s West Hollywood. There are always people coming to the door, ‘Can I get a job?’ ”

She added that she is aware that being a server “is not their primary ambition”, but even more so “to be on Vanderpump Rules.”

Production for the 12th season Vanderpump Rules should start in 2025.

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Source: HIS Education