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‘The Vampire Diaries’ Julie Plec Announces Nina Dobrev’s Return Date: Will It Be For Season 8?

By Alexandria Ingham
Published on: 00:17 PST, May 17, 2016

Will Nina Dobrev return to The Vampire Diaries for Season 8? There have been many questions over the subject, and now showrunner Julie Plec has confirmed the plans. It turns out she may be back next year, but it will depend on circumstances.

The only confirmation so far is that Dobrev will reprise her role as Elena Gilbert for the series finale. This has been mentioned a few times, but now The Hollywood Life officially confirms it through an interview with Julie Plec. It has always been the plan to bring her back for the series finale, whether that is for one or two episodes.

“It’s what she and I kind of agreed on when she decided to move on, and it’s what I’ve got in my head.”

However, the door is always open for Dobrev to come back sooner. When she left in The Vampire Diaries Season 6, she said she wanted to try new things. For her, Elena’s storyline had come full circle, and it was time to move on. Coming back for the series finale would serve the fans and give them some closure regarding the Damon/Elena relationship.

Plec has supported Dobrev in the decision, but says that, if she ever wanted to return sooner, then it would be a possibility. As the showrunner, she would find a way to bring Elena back and create a story for her. If that was to happen in Season 8, though, Dobrev would need to have already discussed things with the showrunner. Nothing has been shared yet, but that doesn’t mean Dobrev definitely isn’t returning.

The Vampire Diaries fans were given the chance to hear Dobrev’s voice again. This was something she has come in the studio to specifically record, as The Inquisitr has previously reported. Fans had no idea that this had happened, as nobody shared her being back on the set except for various rumors regarding the Dobrev-Ian Somerhalder-Nikki Reed triangle.

Now the question is whether the series finale will be this time next year. There are many who believe The Vampire Diaries Season 8 will be the last. This is certainly a possibility with a number of the original cast saying they are ready to move on. Kat Graham has officially decided Season 8 is the last for her, and Ian Somerhalder has hinted it. Paul Wesley may now be leaving, and there are questions over whether Caroline and Matt could possibly keep the show alive with Enzo and Alaric.

It would make sense for Season 8 to be the end, but Plec has not confirmed or denied this as her decision. She says she will continue to pitch the show while there is a story, but does have an ending idea in mind. The Originals fans are worried that ending The Vampire Diaries will end their weekly fix of the Mikaelson family, too. There have been previous hints that the endings for the two shows will work together.

“Obviously things can change throughout time, if the show goes on longer than we expect it to, or if we all collectively decide it would be fun to bring her back earlier, and she wanted to.”

Some of the statements Plec has made make it look like Season 8 will be the end. During her interview, she did say that should the show continue on longer than expected, Dobrev may reprise her role sooner. This could be a hint that should it move on past Season 8, she may come back for Season 9 to get around the problem of Graham leaving.

It is looking more likely that The Vampire Diaries Season 8 will be the last. Following on from her voice cameo in the Season 7 finale, many have wondered when Dobrev will return. The series finale of The Vampire Diaries has been announced as the official definite date for her return, whenever that may be.

[Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images]

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