Vanessa Marcil Checks Out of General Hospital

Sexy Vanessa Marcil has shocked the soap world: The brunette beauty is leaving the role of Brenda Barrett on ABC's General Hospital, her manager and ABC Daytime confirmed Wednesday. Sources tell Dish that the actress is in final negotiations to join the cast of Beverly Hills, 90210. A spokesman for Spelling Entertainment confirmed that Marcil is in discussions with the show, but "nothing's been set."

Marcil, a two-time Emmy nominee, joined the soap in September 1992 and is scheduled to wrap up taping the show in mid-August. She has enjoyed almost unprecedented popularity, and her onscreen love interests have included Antonio Sabato Jr. and Ingo Rademacher. There was no word from ABC on whether the role will be recast.

In addition to the prospect of joining 90210, the actress recently inked a deal to do two independent movies. She is known to nonsoap fans for playing Nicolas Cage's wife in The Rock, as well as for hosting ABC in Concert. She has also starred in several videos for The Artist Formerly Known as Prince, including "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World."

In other Spelling casting news, Steve Wilder, who played Jack Deveraux on NBC's Days of Our Lives, is joining Melrose Place in a short-term role. "I play a guy named Alex Bastian," Wilder tells Dish. "He's a guy from Jane's past who is going to turn things around for her and Michael. The producers are being secretive about a lot of things, but this is going to be a fun character and a fun storyline." Wilder will first appear on Melrose this fall. � Jonathan Reiner