EW.com can exclusively report that Dustin Milligan, who has played good guy jock (and one half of 90210’s central super couple) Ethan, won’t be returning to the show in the fall — at least not full time.

90210’s new boss, Rebecca Rand Kirshner Sinclair, recently told EW that the soap’s second season would be “significantly” different than the first.

Reps for The CW and producer Paramount declined comment, but a 90210 insider confirms that The Powers That Be recently informed Milligan that his contract option was not being picked up for next season. Discussions are underway to bring Milligan back in the fall for a multi-episode arc that would wrap up Ethan’s story.

All indications are that Milligan’s exit was strictly a creative decision. “Everyone loves Ethan,” maintains the insider. “There was just a feeling that the character had run its course.” (more…)