Pilot News: Cassidy Hits Melrose, McQueen Bites into Vampire

Supernatural alumna and daughter-of-David Katie Cassidy is packing her bags for Melrose Place, the CW's pilot reboot of the frothy Fox series. Cassidy, says Variety, will fill the role of Ella, a stylish up-and-coming publicist.

Although Cassidy has the female lead (as the would-be bride) in CBS' Harper's Island, premiering April 9, Melrose will have no bearing on that. Harper's is a closed-end, 13-episode series; should it get picked up, it would be with an entirely new cast and premise.

Elsewhere on the CW pilot front, Steven R. McQueen, a grandson of Steve McQueen, has landed a lead on Vampire Diaries, Screamer Kevin Williamson's adaptation of the young-adult novel series.

McQueen (Everwood) will play Jeremy, the younger sibling of Ella, who is the central heroine torn between two vampire brothers.