‘The Vampire Diaries’ Season 8 episode 1 spoilers, airdate update: What’s next for Stefan, Bonnie, Alaric, Damon and others; Nina Dobrev to return, confirms showrunner

"The Vampire Diaries" (TVD) Season 7 finale ended with a massive cliffhanger. Enzo and Damon have become soulless murderers in some other part of the world and Bonnie's suffering has not come to an end. Now, fans are wondering where things go from here and what happens when Season 8 premieres.

[Spoiler alert! This article contains potential spoilers for "The Vampire Diaries" (TVD) Season 8 spoilers. Read on only if you wish to know more about it.]

Season 7 finale featured some jaw-dropping plot twists and shockers. The show ended with Stefan making a promise to Elena that he'll make everything right and bring back Damon.

When "The Vampire Diaries" (TVD) Season 8 premieres, fans can expect to see Stefan and Bonnie on a new journey. Together they deal with the consequences of Enzo and Damon's sacrifice for Bonnie and struggle to bring them back. At the same time, it is expected to delve deeper into what happened inside The Armoury's vault and unveil the devil that changed Enzo and Damon.

Speaking to TV Guide, "The Vampire Diaries" (TVD) star Paul Wesley, who plays the role of Stefan Salvatore revealed that the quest the two central characters embark on in the finale, lays the foundation of the "main story line of Season 8." According to the actor, the upcoming season is "really dark, really twisted and really fun."

As Damon and Enzo continue to kill innocent people, Stefan and Bonnie must do something to stop Damon and Enzo and bring them back home. Meanwhile, several media outlets are speculating that Elena is the key to bringing Damon back.

In "The Vampire Diaries" (TVD) Season 3 finale "Gods and Monsters," featured a brief cameo of Nina Dobrev. The devil uses Elena Gilbert's voice to lure Damon. And towards the end of the episode, fans also saw Stefan writing a journal and making a promise to Elena. Does this mean Elena will be back?

While there is no official confirmation from the showrunners, rumours claim that the fan-favourite character may return before the show comes to an end. In an interview with TV Line, showrunner Julie Plec teased the return of Nina Dobrev before the series finale.

"But in my opinion, she was very clear about what she wanted the next step in her life to be, and she's doing a great job of achieving that. So I'm sticking with my side of the plan, which is to bring her back at the very end," Plec told the publication.

As for Bonnie, "The Vampire Diaries" (TVD) Season 8 will continue to see her suffer as she has lost the two most important men in her life. She will be in an "emotional terrible place," Plec told E! Online. Meanwhile, Caroline and Stefan are back together and have a relationship. And Alaric is expected to deal with it "gracefully" and move forward.

"The Vampire Diaries" (TVD) Season 8 is expected to premiere in fall 2016. The network is yet to announce the official date. So stay tuned for more spoilers and updates.