Fans of The Vampire Diaries may have something new to sink their teeth into. According to Deadline, co-creator/executive producer Julie Plec is working on a pilot for a spin-off series currently called The Originals.
The Vampire Diaries, now in its fourth season on The CW, follows the never-ending drama of the inhabitants of Mystic Falls, where vampires, werewolves, and witches dwell among the humans.
The spin-off’s storyline would begin in the April 25th episode, and Julie Plec told Entertainment Weekly:
The idea is that a turn of events in Mystic Falls sends Klaus to New Orleans to solve a mystery. He gets word that some people are making a move against him that might concern him. So he heads to New Orleans to try to figure who’s plotting against him and what they’re up to. And in unfolding that mystery, it takes him back to a town that several hundred years ago, he was actually one of the original settlers of and helped build. He reacquaints himself with a vampire that he actually turned back in the day, Marcel, who has created a whole set of rules and a whole society for the supernatural community that he’s in charge of — sort of tipping his hat to Klaus and saying, “You taught me everything I know.” So Klaus’ protegé is now the big king of the supernatural community in New Orleans and Klaus is stepping back into that.
Actors already chosen for the series include Joseph Morgan, which is no surprise since he’s Klaus, and Phoebe Tonkin as werewolf Hayley. I did not like Tonkin’s character in the short-lived The Secret Circle, and I like her even less as Hayley. I hope they write her as a more endearing character if she has a larger role in the spin-off,
Also of concern is the setting in New Orleans. I realize Anne Rice doesn’t own the rights to place vampires and witches in the French Quarter, but I’ve read too many urban fantasies, paranormal romances, etc. where the city served as the primary setting. A little cliché at this point, perhaps?
Or perhaps not. Maybe the producers will put a fresh spin on it.
Though the show is still in the works, Plec indicated that Rebekah and Elijah may appear at some point. As Klaus’ siblings, this would make sense, but the story would have to dictate how and when. Rebekah and Klaus are currently on bad terms, considering he has driven the White Oak Stake through her several times, and I honestly lost track of where Elijah and the remaining siblings are. This is why a spin-off makes perfect sense; The Vampire Diaries now has a few too many characters to keep track of.
The Vampire Diaries airs on The CW Thursdays at 8/7 pm.