Jason Priestley will direct an episode of the new 90210 in January, and he admitted he was asked a number of times about making an on-screen appearance.

"They did ask, but I sort of informed them that it wasn't really anything I was that interested in," said Priestley, who played Brandon Walsh in the original Beverly Hills 90210. "The reality is, they didn't really have anything very interesting for me to do.

"Brandon Walsh was one of those characters who wouldn't just show up all of a sudden with nothing very interesting going on. So the challenge for me going back there as an actor just wasn't going to be there. So there's no point going back, you know what I mean?"

Priestley, who now has an extensive directing resume as well as an extensive acting resume, said the creators of the new 90210 got in touch with him about directing as soon as they learned the show had been picked up for a full season by the CW network (it airs on Global in Canada).

Directing an episode of 90210 is a neat "circle of life" thing for Priestley, isn't it?

"You know, it really is," Priestley said with a laugh. "And now the circle is complete."

Hakuna matata, Jason.