It has been almost seven years since The Vampire Diaries concluded after season 8. However, rumors have persisted that the long-running hit CW show may still return for a season 9.
The Vampire Diaries first premiered in 2009 and captivated viewers with its Twilight-esque premise. After all, it ran throughout the 2010s, a period when paranormal romances with vampires were all the rage. The series follows orphaned Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev), who falls in love with a 161-year-old vampire, Stefan (Paul Wesley), but finds herself in a love triangle when Stefan’s older brother, Damon (Ian Somerhalder), arrives on the scene. While the series does have a Twilight feel to it, it manages to differentiate itself by featuring a bit more mature content and drawing viewers in with the wildest plot twists.
The Vampire Diaries was so popular that it became a franchise. Its story continued in the spinoff The Originals, which would go on to have its own spinoff series, Legacies. As of 2022, though, the original The Vampire Diaries and both spinoffs have concluded. However, fans have been unwilling to let the franchise go, and rumors have continued circulating about a potential ninth season.
Is The Vampire Diaries renewed for season 9?
Unfortunately, The Vampire Diaries has not been renewed for a ninth season. However, that hasn’t stopped rumors from cropping up over the years. A few rumors are swirling on X, formerly Twitter, and TikTok once again. Meanwhile, as recently as this year, smaller media outlets like Cultured Vultures have speculated about a season 9 and whether the show was actually canceled.
However, there have been no indications of The Vampire Diaries returning. In fact, The CW didn’t even cancel the show—it reached a natural conclusion, making a return a bit unnecessary. While some fans have suggested season 9 serving as a revival or reboot for the series, the show’s stars have shot down the idea. Unsubstantiated rumors about season 9 also arose in 2021, with Somerhalder debunking them and also pointing out that the show would be hard-pressed to find a way to continue.
By the end of season 8, the show’s leads were either dead or living out normal mortal lives. Besides Somerhalder debunking season 9, much of the original cast has also denied having any interest in returning to the franchise. Despite the persistent rumors, The Vampire Diaries is not returning for a ninth season, and the possibility of it doing so in the future remains very low.
(featured image: The CW)
