CW confirms 'Gossip Girl' spinoff details

The CW has confirmed that the forthcoming spinoff to Gossip Girl will revolve around the character of Lily Van Der Woodsen.

The show's creator/executive producer Josh Schwartz told The Hollywood Reporter that the series would focus on a teenage Lily living in 1980s Los Angeles.

"There has been a lot of speculation about a Gossip Girl spinoff, but we were adamant that it had to be the right time and the right idea," he said.

The early plot outline sees Lily move in with her sister in the San Fernando Valley after arguing with her parents. She then has to learn to adapt to a life without luxury, including swapping her private school for a public school.

She later discovers the Sunset Strip and the Hollywood excesses of the 1980s, eventually meeting rocker Rufus Humphrey and embarking on a passionate affair.

"We are inspired by the opportunity to tell overlapping stories and introduce characters that will appear in the past and the present -- and hopefully enrich both shows," said Schwartz.

"We love exploring fashion, pop culture, music and a heightened world that's just a little more fun than the one we actually live in. L.A. in the 80s totally fits the bill."

The CW has ordered a backdoor pilot for the show, which will air as a Gossip Girl episode later this season.