The Vampire Diaries, a widely acclaimed fantasy romance series that aired from 2009 to 2017, captivated audiences with its dramatic love triangle and supernatural themes. Starring Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert, alongside Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder as the Salvatore brothers, Stefan and Damon, the show ran successfully for eight seasons. Recent revelations from Samantha Highfill’s book, I Was Feeling Epic: An Oral History of The Vampire Diaries, uncovered surprising casting rumors involving actors like Pedro Pascal.
Unmet Casting Choices for Key Roles
For the lead role of Elena, the network initially favored Ashlee Simpson. However, showrunner Julie Plec resisted this suggestion, explaining,
“No offense to Ashlee Simpson, we were just reacting negatively to feeling like a piece of talent with a certain name was being forced on us,”
and added,
“We were pushing back against it.”
This resistance reflected the creative team’s desire to select actors without external pressure from the channel.
Other notable casting near-misses included Sebastian Stan and Matt Czuchry as potential candidates for Damon Salvatore’s role. Stan even auditioned for Stefan, but conflicting schedules due to his commitment to another show prevented further progress. Bonnie Bennett’s character was contested between Kat Graham and Tessa Thompson, with Graham eventually securing the part, praised for an
“innocent quality about her, this wide-eyed innocent thing.”
Actors Considered for Major Supporting Roles
Matthew Davis was the first choice and final pick for Alaric Saltzman, though both Jason Momoa and Joe Manganiello were strong contenders for this vampire hunter role. Similarly, the character Tyler Lockwood almost went to Matt Lauria before the casting settled. Joseph Morgan’s iconic portrayal of Klaus Michaelson was the product of a competitive selection process, where actors like Taylor Kitch, Billy Magnussen, Finn Wittrock, Chris Geere, and Bill Skarsgard were all considered. Interestingly, Sebastian Roché, who portrayed Klaus’s father Mikael on the show, also read for Klaus.
Pedro Pascal’s Near Casting on The Originals
Pedro Pascal was eager to play Marcel Gerard on The Originals, the popular spinoff of The Vampire Diaries. Showrunner Julie Plec supported this idea, but ultimately, Pascal was considered
“a little too old for The CW,”
which resulted in Charles Michael Davis securing the role. The popularity of both series has grown steadily, cementing their places as modern cult classics with devoted fanbases.
The Lasting Impact of Casting Decisions on the Series
Many potential cast members, including well-known names like Sebastian Stan, Jason Momoa, and Pedro Pascal, nearly shaped The Vampire Diaries and its spinoff. Their absence—and the choices made instead—had a lasting effect on how the characters and narratives were received by audiences around the world. These casting stories reveal the complex negotiations between networks, creative teams, and actor availability that influence beloved television shows.
