‘We Were So Wrong’: The Vampire Diaries Creator Recalls The Time When Casting Paul Wesley As Damon Seemed Like A ‘Terrible Idea’

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'We Were So Wrong': The Vampire Diaries Creator Recalls The Time When Casting Paul Wesley As Damon Seemed Like A 'Terrible Idea'

As a fan who has witnessed the magic of Mystic Falls unfold over the past 15 years, I can confidently say that The Vampire Diaries will forever hold a special place in my heart. Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder as Stefan and Damon Salvatore, respectively, are undeniably two of the most captivating reasons to tune into this supernatural teen drama.

For 15 years now, viewers have been enchanted by “The Vampire Diaries”, Mystic Falls, and its array of supernatural inhabitants. This series has stood the test of time as one of the top supernatural teen dramas, with Paul Wesley, Ian Somerhalder, and Nina Dobrev still cherished for their portrayals of Stefan, Damon, and Elena respectively. Interestingly enough, before all this, Ian Somerhalder’s character, Damon Salvatore, was initially intended for another actor – the man who eventually played Stefan, Paul Wesley.

Wesley’s Stefan and Somerhalder’s Damon are undeniably two compelling reasons to tune into TVD. Finding the right duo to portray the vampire brothers proved to be a challenging task, as Creator Julie Plec recently revealed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. She discussed the casting process in detail.

The narrative opens with her and her group expressing fascination towards Somerhalder, having appreciated him in ‘Young Americans’. Yet, she mentioned he failed his audition, forcing them to explore other possibilities. It was then that the concept of Wesley portraying Damon emerged, but this suggestion was swiftly dismissed as she clarified:

Initially, when considering who could replace Ian Somerhalder as Damon, we found ourselves questioning, “If not him, then who?” Enter Paul Wesley amidst a crowd of 10 other potential Stefans. Kevin and I, without boasting, felt that he was too mature for the role, so we voiced our thoughts, “No, we don’t want him. He’s too old.” However, the network suggested a surprising twist, “How about making Paul Damon instead of Ian?” Our response was immediate rejection, “Oh no, we can’t do that! What a terrible idea!

Wesley is an ideal fit for Stefan, but I can see why there were discussions about him playing Damon. Given his exceptional performance, it wasn’t surprising that he was considered, despite Damon’s audition not going as smoothly as expected. However, it also becomes clear why they didn’t want him as Damon, as he doesn’t embody the physical and personality traits that were envisioned for the older Salvatore brother.

Initially, it was uncertain whether casting Wesley as Stefan and Somerhalder as Damon was the correct decision, but soon enough, they found their doubts unfounded, as she put it.

Initially, Kevin and I weren’t convinced about Paul Wesley, but our opinions changed drastically during his first day of shooting, particularly in the scene where he met Nina Dobrev in the cemetery. It was then that we realized how mistaken we were about him; he is indeed flawless. Although we had explored various possibilities with actors like Steven Strait, Sebastian Stan, and Taylor Kitsch within the context of the covenants, I believe we couldn’t have made a better choice than Paul Wesley in this instance.

It’s intriguing to learn that Plec and Williamson initially had reservations about Paul Wesley playing Stefan, but only after filming began. I can’t help but ponder how he would have fared as Damon, but sadly, we’ll never get to find out. Perhaps it’s for the best.

Ultimately, Wesley beat out other actors for Stefan for a reason, and Ian Somerhalder was given a second chance as Damon, and it worked out perfectly.

Even if everything had gone smoothly, Wesley often doubted his ability to stay on the show for long. Last year, he revealed that he felt he might be let go during the early seasons of TVD. As the series wasn’t solely focused on one main character, the cast understood they could easily be replaced. The actor portraying Stefan confessed that while many of his young co-stars, who were mostly in their 20s, were going out and arriving late or hungover to work, he remained disciplined and studied his lines diligently to avoid losing his role.

Indeed, his approach proved successful, seeing as he headed the “TVD” cast right up until its conclusion. Even now, there are ongoing discussions about the possibility of him reprising his role as Stefan.

Regardless of the time it took, every path ultimately converged on Paul Wesley and Stefan, and we’re truly grateful that they did. Although Wesley now stars in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and other productions, he will forever be cherished for his role in The Vampire Diaries, which can currently be watched with a Max or Peacock subscription.

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2024-09-11 21:07