When the CW's The Vampire Diaries first premiered, everyone tuned in expecting it to be just another Twilight rip-off. While it was similar in some ways, it couldn't have been more different in others. The series was gruesome, ruthless, and at times, reminscent of an 1800s old gothic horror story. At the center of it all was relative newcomer Nina Dobrev. Where other actresses might have faltered or backed away from some of the challenges presented by the series, she made a name for herself on the small screen as one of the best up-and-coming actresses.
Since the series' premiere, Dobrev has had the chance to work on a few feature films here and there like The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Let's Be Cops, and this year's The Final Girls. However, a few months ago, rumors began swirling that Dobrev might be leaving Vampire Diaries (currently in its sixth season and going strong) after several tweets and Instagram posts were made by the show's cast and crew included #ninawewillmissyou.
Well, it looks like the rumors were true. Today, Dobrev announced on Instagram that she'll be departing from the series following the sixth season finale. Dobrev also included an image of herself and series' showrunner, Julie Plec, along with a letter to the fans of the series detailing why she'll be saying goodbye to Elena Gilbert and the rest of the characters.
Check it out below:
Plec recently released a statement in regards to Dobrev's departure, as well:
"Saying goodbye to Nina is both bittersweet and beautiful. After six-plus years together, the entire cast and crew of 'The Vampire Diaries' has reached a level of closeness that I don’t think any of us ever expected. Nina is excited to spread her wings, get some rest, travel the world and also take it by storm, and we support her a thousand-fold. We will miss Nina and the 400 characters she played, but we look forward to the insane and exciting challenge of continuing to tell stories of our Salvatore Brothers and our much-loved and gifted ensemble."
Dobrev wasn't the only actor rumored to be leaving this season. Actor Michael Trevino (who plays Tyler Lockwood) recently was released by the studio to work on a pilot for the ABC series, Kingmakers - meaning he'll be able to leave Vampire Diaries if the pilot takes off.
Plec commented on Trevino's future in the series with the following:
“Michael has been a beloved member of the 'Vampire Diaries' family since Day 1. Even though he’s also going to be out in the world exploring new opportunities, we look forward to finding creative ways to make sure he and his character Tyler Lockwood always remain a part of the show.”
Dobrev and Trevino are two of a number of series regulars to leave the series this season after the earlier departure of Dobrev's onscreen brother Jeremy (played by Steven R. McQueen) as well as Marguerite McIntyre's Sheriff Forbes.
While this will most likely come as a disappointment to most fans, it might not be the kind of grave marker some might think. The series has managed to maintain strong ratings all throughout its six season run so far, but more and more of the storylines and character arcs have begun to feel recycled. Despite the fact that Dobrev's performance and likability was one of the biggest draws to the series for a lot of viewers, her departure (and possible replacement?) could give the series a new kind of life some might argue it's in desperate need of.
Dobrev remains one of the most interesting and intriguing young actresses working today and after proving her chops both on this and in other efforts, it shouldn't be too hard for her to transition into this new phase of her career. Fans of the series certainly have a lot to look forward to throughout the rest of this season, and while it may end in a heartfelt and bittersweet goodbye to the show's flagship character, it doesn't look like the writers will be holding back with her farewell.
The Vampire Diaries airs Thursdays @8pm on The CW.
Source: Instagram