The Vampire Diaries is one of those shows that sticks with you, even years after it ended. There’s just something about it that keeps drawing fans back.
Whether you’re Team Stefan, Team Damon, or even Team Klaus, we can all agree there’s nothing like rewatching the series and getting lost in the drama of Mystic Falls.
The love triangles, the twists, the characters—it all feels like coming home to a story you know so well but still love every time. And honestly, it’s the kind of show that never gets old, no matter how many times you watch it!
Here are some amazing behind-the-scenes facts from The Vampire Diaries:
Auditioning Twice
Did you know that Ian Somerhalder didn’t land the part of Damon on his first try? Despite his talent, Ian had to audition twice before landing the part that would make him a fan favorite on the show.
His persistence paid off, and it’s hard to imagine anyone else playing the character!
It just shows that even the most talented actors like Ian face challenges, but staying determined can lead to something truly great.
Check out this super cool video on YouTube that takes you behind the scenes of the process! It’s packed with fun details and gives you a whole new appreciation for the supernatural series.
A Vampire Diaries Audition That Almost Slipped Away
Nina Dobrev’s journey to landing the role of Elena in The Vampire Diaries was far from perfect.
During her initial audition in Los Angeles, Nina was feeling under the weather and thought her performance fell flat.
Despite this, fate had other plans. While filming Chloe (2009) in Toronto, she recorded another audition on tape, which impressed the producers and put her on the fast track to becoming the iconic Elena Gilbert.
Check out this snippet from her audition:
Vampire Diaries Filming Locations
Did you know The Vampire Diaries pilot was shot in Vancouver? But here’s the twist – the rest of the series was filmed in Georgia!
Due to tax credit incentives, most of the show was filmed in the city of Covington, which became the perfect backdrop for Mystic Falls.
Origins of Damon and Stefan’s Surname
Okay – so here’s another fun fact for you!
Show Creators Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec originally planned to change Damon and Stefan’s last name from Salvatore (like in the books) to Whitmore. Can you imagine that?
But when the name for an uncle character, Zach Whitmore, wasn’t clear, they decided to switch it back to Salvatore.
What some die-hard fans will already know is that the name Whitmore was later used for the college Elena and Caroline attend.
A Surprising Request From A Popstar!
At Comic-Con 2011, Nina Dobrev revealed that Justin Bieber had wanted to make an appearance on The Vampire Diaries! I’m not sure about you but I would’ve loved to see that happen!
Although this may seem shocking to some, the Canadian singer does have some acting experience. In 2011, he guest-starred on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as Jason McCann and made a cameo in the film Zoolander 2 (2016).
Why The Vampire Diaries Didn’t Go Too Supernatural
The Vampire Diaries could’ve featured way more supernatural creatures but Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec went against the idea. This is the reason why they didn’t appear in the show, unlike the books.
Previously, Plec explained in an interview that when the books started adding “angels, foxes, mystical creatures, and hell dimensions,” they decided to stop there.
According to an online report, Williamson and Julie wanted the show to stay grounded and focus more on the characters and their stories, rather than going overboard with supernatural creatures.
The Character Who Didn’t Make the Cut
Meredith Sulez is an important character in The Vampire Diaries books, but she didn’t make it to the show.
Show producer Julie Plec shared in an interview that Meredith was actually in an early draft of the pilot script. However, she was later cut because the creators felt there were already too many characters to juggle.
How The Vampire Diaries Came to Be
According to IMBD, Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec were approached by Jen Breslow, VP of Drama Development at the CW, to adapt The Vampire Diaries books into a TV series. However, before the process began, Williamson was said to not be interested, feeling the concept was too similar to Twilight.
However, Plec convinced him to keep reading, and as he did, he began to see the show’s potential beyond just another vampire story.
He realized it wasn’t just about a girl falling in love with a vampire—it was about a small town with dark secrets, and that’s what ultimately changed his mind.
A Subtle Change To The Show Throughout The Seasons
Did you know the title card at the beginning of each Vampire Diaries episode was changed after the first season? As the show evolved there was a much darker, more intense tone.
How The Vampire Diaries Strayed from the Books
If you’ve read the book you know the show doesn’t exactly follow all of its detail.
You would’ve noticed that The Vampire Diaries series made some pretty big changes – including hair colour. Elena is a brunette in the show, while in the books she’s blonde and a popular girl at school.
Meanwhile, the story is set in the 2000s instead of the 1990s, and the town is called Mystic Falls, not Fell’s Church. Elena also has a brother in the show instead of a little sister.
Plus, while angels play a role in the books, they never show up in the series. Elena’s journal becomes much more important on the show too, and the brothers’ backstory is quite different.
Nina Dobrev and Paul Wesley’s Rocky Start
Ok, most of us were swooning over Elena and Stefan’s lustful relationship – but behind the scenes, it was a completely different picture!
In fact, the pair didn’t like each other as much. In a previous interview on Candice King and Kayla Ewell’s podcast Directionally Challenged, Nina Dobrev revealed that she and Paul Wesley didn’t get along at first when they started filming the show.
Paul confirmed this, but both actors were quick to clarify that they are now great friends.
The Vampire Diaries Season 6 Episode Titles
Did you know that all the episodes in Season 6 of The Vampire Diaries are named after 90s songs? Yep me neither!
It’s a fun throwback to that era, except for a few episodes—“Bird In A Gilded Cage,” “I Never Could Love Like That,” “I’ll Wed You in the Golden Summer Time,” and “I’m Thinking Of You All The While”—which are actually titles from 1903.
Are you the ultimate Vampire Diaries superfan? If you are, check out these super cool merch including hoodies and mugs to show your love for the series.