Imagine The Vampire Diaries without Ian Somerhalder as Damon Salvatore. There, there. Hope you didn’t choke. But boy, it almost happened! In some wild alternate universe, the brooding vampire could’ve been played by none other than a Marvel star. Yep, before Somerhalder won fans over with his smirks and dangerous charm, the showrunners were eyeing a completely different actor—one who’s since made waves in the superhero world.
But as fate would have it, and thank God it did, that other guy just didn’t hit the mark, leaving the door wide open for Somerhalder to swoop in and claim the role of a lifetime. It’s crazy to think that one casting decision could’ve flipped The Vampire Diaries upside down!
Ian Somerhalder Almost Missed Out on The Vampire Diaries Lead Role to a Marvel Star
Ian Somerhalder as Damon Salvatore in The Vampire Diaries seems like a match made in heaven, right? Oh, of course, it is. But Somerhalder himself admits he completely tanked his audition (good things take time, y’all). The showrunner Julie Plec spilled during an interview, revealing (via THR):
We were instantly interested in Ian because I had actually been a fan of Young Americans … anyway, so he tanked [his audition] and he knows he tanked and everyone knows he tanked and it’s cannon at this point. But we had a moment where we were like, Well, if he’s not our Damon, then who is?
So, who was their next option for the devilish vampire? Believe it or not, Marvel star Sebastian Stan was on the radar. And yes, Taylor Kitsch and Steven Strait were also in the running. Talk about an alternate universe!
Plec and co-creator Kevin Williamson were scrambling for their Damon after Somerhalder’s flop, even toying with the idea of casting Paul Wesley (who was originally considered too old) as Damon instead. Thankfully, they ditched that idea — what a terrible idea. Plec admitted:
And then Paul Wesley came in amidst a sea of 10 other possible Stefans. And Kevin and I — we’ve also said so, I don’t feel like I’m talking shit — just thought he [Paul] was too old, and so we said, “No, we don’t want him. He’s too old.
And then the network said, Well, make him Damon instead of Ian. And we were like, Oh, no, we can’t do that. A terrible idea.
It wasn’t until Ian Somerhalder came back, nailed the role, and the rest, as they say, is vampire history. The Vampire Diaries ended up launching an entire universe with spin offs like The Originals and Legacies, proving the casting decisions were spot-on in the end. Imagine the show without Somerhalder’s Damon? Please don’t.
Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley return to the Vampire Diaries mansion
Guess what, TVD fans? Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley just hit the Salvatore Mansion for the first time in seven years! On June 10, Somerhalder shared the magic on Instagram with, “First time back in the Salvatore house in 7 years!!!”
The reunion happened at Epic Con’s Vampire Weekend in Covington, Georgia—where Mystic Falls came to life (via Today). Even though the original Glenridge Hall was torn down in 2015, you can still get your fix at Mystic Mercantile, which has an epic replica of the Salvatore living room.
Owner Angi Henderson Beszborn created the space to make fans feel like they’re part of the show, kind of like a mini Hogwarts. And off-screen? Somerhalder and Wesley are still tight, calling each other real life brothers. Who knew the magic of Mystic Falls could still be so real?
Watch The Vampire Diaries on Max & Apple TV.
