Ian Somerhalder (Photo : Getty Images/Ilya S. Savenok)
"The Vampire Diaries" Season 8 may soon see Nina Dobrev's return as Elena Gilbert, but even if this may not happen, cast member Ian Somerhalder thinks that his co-star never really left.
In an interview with TV Line, Somerhalder said that even though Dobrev left "The Vampire Diaries" at the end of Season 6, it feels like her character never really left. "She is always ever-present, and she plays a great deal into Damon's morality, his understanding of who he is - especially in these last episodes. Despite everything he has gotten involved with, he is still trying to make decisions Elena would approve of, because she is still the light in his life, even cast in the darkness of her absence," he explained.
When asked if Dobrev is sure to reprise her role as Elena in the finale for "The Vampire Diaries" Season 8, Somerhalder said that he is not sure if things have already been finalized.
"How much she is going to physically play into things, I am not really sure. I think they are just finishing writing the finale now," he said. TV Line revealed that the interview with Somerhalder took place a few days before executive producer Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson finished writing the script for the finale.
Meanwhile, the actor's recent statement seems different from what he previously said about Dobrev's return to the series. In December 2016, the actor told Variety that he does not think Damon deserves to have a happy ending with Elena. After all, he has killed a lot of people and has hurt more than he could imagine or remember.
"I want the audience to be happy, but I am also very pro human. I do not think these guys should have the ability to wreak havoc, kill everybody, ruin the lives of so many and then get out with a happy ending. I think the happy ending is that we got to go on this amazing ride with these two guys. They've lived long enough," he said.
"The Vampire Diaries" Season 8 airs Fridays at 8 p.m. EST on The CW.
