25 Surprising Behind-the-Scenes Facts About The Vampire Diaries
Elena Was Blonde in the Books
Nina Dobrev’s portrayal of Elena wasn’t exactly what the writer, L.J. Smith intended when he wrote the novels. In the books, Elena is rather popular and she is a blonde. However, Dobrev’s audition won the hearts of the show runners and the script was adapted to her accordingly even though it deflected from the source material.
Joseph Morgan Was Initially Temporary
For the third season of the show, Joseph Morgan's Klaus Mikaelson was introduced as the primary villain. However, Joseph Morgan’s acting was so charismatic that not only did he stay for the entire duration of the show but also found himself as the titular protagonist in the spin-off, ‘The Originals’.
Ashley Tisdale Turned Down The Main Role
Ashley Tisdale was the initial choice for the show instead of Nina Dobrev. The ‘High School Musical’ star was offered an audition for the character of Elena. She turned it down to star in the CW show, ‘Hellcats’.
Ian Somerhalder Auditioned for True Blood
Imagine if we said, it was fate that brought Ian Somerhalder to ‘The Vampire Diaries’. Initially, he had audition for the role of Jason Stackhouse on HBO’s ‘True Blood’. However, he was unable to get the role, which freed him for his career-defining performance in ‘The Vampire Diaries’.
A Dawson's Creek Connection Helped Launch the Show
‘The Vampire Diaries’ was able to go on air quite easily owing to Kevin Williamson’s previous work. He was the creator of ‘Dawson’s Creek’ and the success of his previous show made the road to release easy for ‘The Vampire Diaries.’
James Van Der Beek Was Considered for Alaric
Kevin Williamson wanted to recast his former lead actor from ‘Dawson’s Creek’. Dawson Leery star, Jam Van Der Beek was the first choice for the role of Alaric Saltzman instead of Matt Davis.
Neve Campbell Inspired Elena
Elena’s character on screen was again inspired by one of the previous works of Kevin Williamson. Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott from Scream was supposed to inspire Elena to get a relatable, “girl-next-door who finds strength in trauma” quality.
Paul Wesley Originally Auditioned for Damon
Maybe a switch-a-roo of characters could’ve happened in the show. Paul Wesley actually auditioned for the role of the bad-boy brother, Damon Salvatore. Glad to say that the producers felt he was a better fit for the heroic brother, Stefan.
Over 100 Actors Auditioned for Damon
Damon Salvatore has claimed many hearts in ‘The Vampire Diaries’ and the audience of the show alike. According to co-creator, Julie Plec, finding the perfect Damon was a magnanimous task with over 100 actors trying to audition for the role, before Ian Somerhalder won them over.
Mystic Falls is Actually Covington, Georgia
The iconic town square and clock tower in Mystic Falls are actually real-life locations that you can visit. The shooting was majorly done in Covington, Georgia although the town of Mystic Falls is set to be based in Virginia. Many fans have already paid a visit to the famous spots.
Nina Dobrev Played Four Characters
Nina Dobrev gave a masterclass in performance in her role(s) in ‘The Vampire Diaries’. It was an amazing fact that she literally played four characters in the show throughout the series: Elena Gilbert, Katherine Pierce (Katerina Petrova), Amara (the original), and Tatia (mentioned/seen briefly in ‘The Originals’).
Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder Directed Episodes
Talk about shaping the story from a real perspective between the brothers. Damon and Stefan were allowed to step in and direct some episodes to provide a clear direction to the story from their own eyes as the characters in the story. Paul Wesley directed five episodes, and Ian Somerhalder directed three.
The Fake Blood Recipe Was Edible (but Sticky)
The Vampire bites needed blood, a lot of it, but since the team can’t use real blood they had to make lots of fake blood for the show. The recipe was rather edible, so great news for the actors; it was made from corn syrup, food coloring, salt and peppermint extract which made it safe but sticky.
Zach Roerig Auditioned for Both Matt and Tyler
We as the audience love Zach Roeria for his role at Matt Donovan, the loyal and ever reliable human. However, during the audition phase, he actually auditioned for both Matt and the role of Tyler Lockwood, the werewolf. It's almost as if fate was dictating the portrayal of characters in the series.
Katherine Wasn't Supposed to Stick Around
Katherine Pierce became one of the most iconic villains in the show but initially, she was only intended as a short-term antagonist in Season 1. Nina Dobrev and her compelling performance convinced the writers to make her a recurring, central character.
Stefan is Much Older Than Paul Wesley
Paul Wesley was in his late 20s when he started playing the teenage vampire- Stefan Vampire. Stefan was shown as 17 years old in the show but in reality he was more than 160 years old, having been born in the 1846. So Stefan’s character, even though it looks young, is much older than the actor who played him.
The Pilot Was Filmed in Vancouver
The series was filmed in Georgia, throughout the show’s timeline. However, the pilot episode was shot in Vancouver, Canada. The show directed its episode in this location before settling down in George for permanent shooting.
Vicki Donovan Was the First Major Human Death
The death of vampires in the show was rather common, but a significant moment in Season 1 changed the audience’s perception of the show’s plot. The death of Vicki Donovan in Season 1 was a major turning point after Stefan forced to stake her when she became a vampire.
The Music Supervisor Was Key
For a show to be successful and important part of the production is the soundtrack itself. The best movies and shows have been critically acclaimed for their amazing scores. Chris Mollere, the show's music supervisor, was crucial to its atmosphere. He selected the iconic tracks that underscored the show's most emotional and dramatic moments, creating a soundtrack as beloved as the series itself.
Stephen Amell Auditioned (Twice!)
Before becoming the Green Arrow, Stephen Amell auditioned for The Vampire Diaries not once, but twice! He read for the roles of both Mason Lockwood (the werewolf uncle) and Elijah Mikaelson (the Original vampire).
Doppelgänger Blood Had Special Properties
The show established complex lore around doppelgängers. Petrova doppelgänger blood (like Elena's) was a key ingredient in powerful spells, most notably needed to break Klaus's hybrid curse, making Elena a constant target.
Characters Died A LOT
It’s hard to keep track of the number of times died or came back to life. For a long time, vampire blood, witchcraft or Gilbert Rings were able to keep the characters alive and in story even though they kept dying multiple times. Death was not a permanent issue in Mystic Falls, until it finally became one.
Sarah Michelle Gellar Visited the Set
Buffy the Vampire Slayer royalty visited Mystic Falls! Sarah Michelle Gellar, a friend of the crew, reportedly visited the set during filming, though sadly, she never made a cameo appearance. A slayer meeting the Salvatores!
The "Alcohol" Was Usually Tea
Despite countless scenes of Damon and others pouring bourbon, the actors weren't actually drinking alcohol on set. The dark liquor was typically iced tea or colored water. Cheers!
Kevin Williamson Left (and Came Back)
Co-creator Kevin Williamson initially stepped back from day-to-day showrunning duties after Season 2 to focus on other projects (The Secret Circle). However, he remained a consultant and eventually returned to help co-write the series finale with Julie Plec.
