Once you fall in love with a show, you love it with all your heart, and ‘The Vampire Diaries‘ was exactly that kind of obsession. After eight seasons on air, fans think they know every secret Mystic Falls has to offer.
But even years later, there are still a few secrets from behind the scenes that’ll surprise you. As it turns out, two now-popular Hollywood stars once came incredibly close to joining the show.
‘The Vampire Diaries’ Role Two Stars Nearly Landed
The revelation comes from ‘I Was Feeling Epic: An Oral History of The Vampire Diaries‘, a behind-the-scenes book by Entertainment Weekly executive editor Samantha Highfill, which was launched in September, 2025.
Related: 10 Major Ways The Vampire Diaries Books Differ From the TV Show
The book reveals that during an interview with creators and actors about the early days of the CW drama, Highfill uncovered an unexpected detail from co-creator Julie Plec. As it turns out, future DCEU stars Jason Momoa (Aquaman) and Joe Manganiello (Deathstroke) both auditioned for the role of Alaric.
Previously, fans already knew about one major near-miss. Paul Wesley almost played Damon Salvatore before Ian Somerhalder secured the role, leading Wesley to play Stefan instead. But that change feels minor compared to imagining completely different actors playing Alaric, the character who later became the series’ emotional backbone.
Why Things Didn’t Work Out?
At the time casting took place in the late 2000s, Momoa had just finished portraying Ronon Dex in ‘Stargate Atlantis‘. And, ‘The Vampire Diaries‘ could have become his defining breakout role. But at the same time, accepting the part might have prevented him from later playing Khal Drogo in ‘Game of Thrones‘, the performance that changed his career forever.
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Meanwhile, Manganiello stood at a very different stage professionally. He appeared in recurring roles across ‘How I Met Your Mother‘ and ‘Til Death‘. And in ‘One Tree Hill‘, audiences knew him as bartender Owen Morello. Moving directly from that character into a hardened vampire hunter would have created a major contrast for viewers.
Soon afterward, Manganiello joined ‘True Blood‘ in 2010 as Alcide Herveaux. If he had secured Alaric instead, the HBO series would have lost one of its key figures.
So, the casting outcome ultimately benefited everyone involved. Momoa and Manganiello each found major success elsewhere, while Matt Davis developed Alaric into one of the show’s most popular characters.
You might also like to read: The Real Reason Why ‘The Vampire Diaries’ Stars Paul Wesley And Nina Dobrev Didn’t Get Along On Set
