‘The Vampire Diaries’ concluded its eighth-season run in 2017. Its spinoffs, ‘The Originals’ and ‘Legacies,’ also ended in the following years, but co-writer Julie Plec recently revealed to Screen Rant that she was open to reviving the franchise based on L. J. Smith’s book series:
“100%. Yeah, I have a story I still want to tell. I know that the people who are on the book have a story that they still want to tell. I’m sure Warner Bros. has plenty of stories they want to tell. So, the hope is they’ll give me the opportunity to do it again. So, we’ll see.”
‘The Vampire Diaries’ pilot was the most-watched premiere on The CW since the network began in 2006. The show received many nominations at events including Teen Choice Awards, People’s Choice Awards, and Saturn Awards during its run.
The plot followed Elena (Nina Dobrev), Damon (Ian Somerhalder), and Stefan’s (Paul Wesley) love triangle.
There Were Plans For A New Project
Despite the franchise’s rising success, its second spinoff, ‘Legacies,’ was canceled in 2022 after Nexstar took over The CW and changed direction to step away from teen dramas. Still, Julie Plec hinted at a possible new project in ‘The Vampire Diaries’ universe.
She told the ‘TV’s Top 5’ podcast that they were already planning another series for the franchise back then:
“The studio knew that we were, you know, pitching on an idea. The network knew. Like, it was not in any kind—they hadn’t heard a peep about it. They didn’t know what it was. But yeah, we had an idea. And, [‘Legacies’ executive producer] Brett [Matthews] and [‘Vampire Diaries’ co-creator] Kevin [Williamson] and I were ready to go with it as soon as we carved out a window of time to do it. So that kind of, you know, popped that balloon, I think for now.”
There are some plotlines in Smith’s novels that are yet to be explored on screen, like kitsunes, psychics, and witches. While there is no official plan announced, a potential new project might feature these creatures and their stories.