Bravo fans will have to wait a bit longer than usual for “Vanderpump Rules” season 12 — because the reality show is shaking up its production timeline … TMZ has learned.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ … the Lisa Vanderpump-led series will not film this summer — breaking from its usual tradition of kicking off production in May and keeping cameras rolling through June and July.

The reason … our sources say Bravo and co. feel they need to give the cast a break and let their lives breathe a bit in the wake of Scandoval — which has consumed much of the current season … and which has run dry at this point.

We’re told producers want to let the cast do their own thing for a bit without jumping right back into another summer of filming — all in the hopes that by the time they come back and shoot … there’ll have been some big developments and new drama to capture.

Despite this pause in production, our sources are insistent … the show is NOT canceled. While it’s unclear when exactly they’ll pick things up again … we know it won’t be a year.

There’s also this … Ariana Madix has been named Sarah Hyland‘s replacement as the host of “Love Island USA” … and sources tell us she’ll be filming in Fiji for a few months soon, an additional factor in the decision to pause production.

In other words … everyone just needs a break for the moment, and they’ll circle back to ‘VPR’ in due time.

This news comes after a tense season 11 reunion for the cast … which has been teased by several people connected to ‘VPR.’ Andy Cohen, who hosts the ‘Pump Rules’ reunion episodes, described it as “incredibly intense and electric” — a sentiment shared by longtime star Katie Maloney.

So, the break is likely a good thing in the long run … although Bravoholics probably don’t agree.