The rumors were finally laid to rest as producers finally announced that the upcoming season of The CW’s “The Vampire Diaries” will be its last.
The supernatural drama will be closing storylines after eight seasons. The cast and executive producers broke the news during the show’s panel at the San Diego ComicCon.
Fans will see the Salvatore brothers and the rest of the Mystic Falls gang again when the show returns on October 21 for a shortened final season.
Variety reports that Season 8 will consist of 16 episodes only but the cast assured fans that each and everyone’s story will be wrapped up beautifully. Episode titles for Season 8 will be lines from the pilot season.
During the panel, the cast and crew introduced a video clip entitled #TVDForever where they all reminisced on eight wonderful years together and prepare to say their thanks and goodbyes to their loyal fans.
The decision to end the series was actually not a surprise to fans as cast members Ian Somerhalder and Kat Graham have earlier expressed that they will exit the series after the 8th season.
A week before their ComicCon appearance, the whole cast of “The Vampire Diaries” gathered together for dinner where showrunner Julie Plec hinted that the show will be ending its run next year.
Plec posted eight photos from their small get-together and captioned the last one “last of the series…. for now” which fans took as a sign that Season 8 will serve as the last season.
Ratings of the show started going downhill after the exit of its lead star Nina Dobrev. The 26-year-old actress, who plays Elena Gilbert, left the series after its Season 6 finale.
Her character, however, wasn’t totally written out from the show. Elena was placed in a trance that linked her and Bonnie’s life which means that she will only wake up when Bonnie dies.
In Season 7, it was revealed that Lily Salvatore was the one who orchestrated the plan and ordered Kai to do the linking spell.
Dobrev was given the chance to return anytime and the actress has openly stated that she might reprise her role in the series finale and do what producers ask of her character.
Plec has stated before that she came up with the series finale back in Season 2. As for Nina’s sudden departure, Plec stated that not much has changed especially when she hopes to see Elena or her doppelgangers return for the last season.
Fans are also wishing that Elena comes back this season so as to give her romance with Damon a proper ending.
Many thought that Season 7 will be the last of the show given Elena’s absence, but back in March, the show was renewed again for one more run. Somerhalder stated that the cast has decided to do one more season to give justice to the storylines.
Executive producer Julie Plec said that the show has been a wonderful journey and it’s rare that a show gets to last this long. Plec adds that she will miss the show terribly, but she’s proud that she can give the show a proper ending.
The CW President Mark Pedowitz stated that “The Vampire Diaries” has meant so much to so many fans around the world and has meant so much to the network as well.
Pedowitz adds that as a fan, he’s thrilled that Plec was given a chance to finish the story the way she has envisioned it from the beginning.
Series co-creator Kevin Williamson also announced at the panel that he will return in Season 8 as a writer. Williamson shared that he’s thrilled to be back and give solid fans an epic conclusion that they all deserve.