BURBANK, Calif., Oct. 8 (UPI) -- Blake Lively wasn't the network's first choice to play Serena van der Woodsen on Gossip Girl.
Series casting director David Rapaport revealed as much in an interview with BuzzFeed published Tuesday. Lively cemented her career by portraying the privileged Upper East Side teen, but Rapaport said The CW initially wanted Rumer Willis for the role.