Rumors about a Vampire Diaries spin-off have been circling for some time, but now it looks like they have become more than just talk. This week The CW announced their plans to air a backdoor pilot towards the end of season four that could potentially turn into a series order for the fall.
The new series, tentatively titled The Originals, will star TVD regular Joseph Morgan as Klaus, who will head back to the French Quarter of New Orleans where he will reunite with former protégé Marcel – who has yet to be cast. Phoebe Tonkin, who plays Hayley, the newest werewolf in Mystic Falls, is set to follow Morgan to New Orleans. Although The Vampire Diaries showrunner Kevin Williamson reportedly won’t be playing any role in the spin-off, TVD executive producer Julie Plec is set to write the episode. Plec will also become showrunner if the pilot goes to series.
Giving the show a chance to garner some fan attention by previewing the series makes a lot of sense considering the high performance standards that networks expect these days. However, I’m not crazy about the idea of Tonkin starring. We haven’t seen too much interaction between her character and Morgan’s so far, but I can’t picture them being on the same side. More than that – and maybe it’s just me – I don’t like her character, at all. I’d much rather see the dynamic between Klaus and Caroline (Candice Accola) developed, or even one of the other supporting cast members like Bonnie (Kat Graham) or Tyler (Michael Trevino).
Barring a current TVD regular, there are still four Originals waiting in the wings to pick from, and there’s still a lot of season four left, so it’s anyone’s guess as to who will survive long enough to accompany Morgan on a spin-off. Even so, nothing about Tonkin’s performance – or her character – that makes me want more air time with her.
The pilot is set to air on April 25th.
Are you excited for the possibility or is The Vampire Diaries enough supernatural for your Thursday night viewing already?
