star trek vampire diaries

Paul Wesley (II)

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4 wins & 14 nominations

Captain James T. Kirk
Lieutenant James T. Kirk
2022–2023 • 4 eps

Ian Somerhalder, Paul Wesley, and Nina Dobrev in The Vampire Diaries (2009)

Stefan Salvatore
2009–2017 • 171 eps

Dorian Missick, Paul Wesley, and Michael Raymond-James in Tell Me a Story (2018)

Tucker Reed
Eddie Longo
2018–2020 • 17 eps

Narrator (voice)

Jake Tanner
17 episodes

Clint Romesha

Kurt von Trapp (voice)
171 episodes

Maria Bello, Jane Lynch, J.K. Simmons, Brittany Snow, Paul Wesley, Lenora Crichlow, Johnny Simmons, Beck Bennett, and Kumail Nanjiani in The Late Bloomer (2016)

co-director

Director (directed by)

Nathan Parsons, Amber Midthunder, Michael Trevino, Heather Hemmens, Tyler Blackburn, Jeanine Mason, Michael Vlamis, and Lily Cowles in Roswell, New Mexico (2019)

executive producer (2019)
Pre-production
executive producer

16 episodes

associate producer
In-development projects at IMDbPro

The Highly Illogical 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' SDCC Interview

Personal details

Paul Wasilewski
5′ 11″ (1.80 m)
New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
Spouses Ines de Ramon August 2018 - February 23, 2024 (divorced)
Parents Tomasz Wasilewski
Relatives Monika Wasilewska (Sibling)
Other works TV commercials for Youth Smoking Prevention (1999)
2 Interviews
1 Magazine Cover Photo

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Trivia He began to credit himself as Paul Wesley in 2005 because he thought his birthname was too hard to pronounce. He asked his family's permission before changing it.
Quotes I'm pretty neurotic.
Trademarks Spiked dark hair
Where was Paul Wesley born?
What is Paul Wesley's birth name?
How tall is Paul Wesley?

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Paul Wesley Never Asked to Be a Heartthrob

The Vampire Diaries and Star Trek actor is ready to leave Mystic Falls behind (for good) and travel to Strange New Worlds.

As much as the world may want to dwell on the vampirification of the 2010s (cue: “Vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo currently on repeat), Paul Wesley is ready to leave bloodsuckers in the past. Wesley’s portrayal of the sometimes-bad, more-often good Stefan Salvatore (one-half of the devilishly handsome, blood-thirsty brother duo in the CW’s The Vampire Diaries ) earned him a spot among some of the greats like Dracula, Edward Cullen , Carmilla, Angel, etc. But let’s just get this out in the open right now: a Vampire Diaries reboot is a “hard pass” for Wesley. In fact, any project having to do with vampires is out of the question — unless, of course, Martin Scorsese calls with an offer.

“I would never do another vampire anything, period, let alone Vampire Diaries ,” Wesley tells InStyle . Sorry to break any (undead) hearts here, but as much as it may hurt to hear, moving on from the teen fantasy romance genre feels like the only logical next step for a star who spent years portraying young supernatural beings. Luckily, the actor is still putting some of his sci-fi background to use in Paramount+’s Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , in which he stars as a young James Tiberius Kirk. The show’s highly anticipated second season is currently streaming.

Before his days in the world of fantasy, Wesley’s foray into acting happened during his junior year of high school, when he was cast in the popular soap opera Guiding Light . Shortly thereafter, Wesley began scoring more gigs throughout the early 2000s on shows like The Education of Max Bickford , The O.C., Smallville, and Law & Order . In 2001, Wesley was ironically cast in a CBS show called Wolf Lake , which followed a teenage pack of werewolves.

“You're shooting 60 pages or something a day,” Wesley said of his early days on Guiding Light . “I didn't really understand the camera, I didn't understand memorizing lines. Over those years as a young actor, I kind-of trained myself by being on a soap opera. And it was better than working at McDonald's, like all my friends.”

In 2009, Wesley landed the role that would completely change the trajectory of his entire career — he was cast as Stefan in The Vampire Diaries , based on the wildly popular novels by L. J. Smith. For the unfamiliar, the series (created by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec) follows a pair of brooding (and ridiculously good looking) vampire brothers living in the small town of Mystic Falls, who share a love for the same girl and have spent much of their centuries-long existence battling their own demons. Unsurprisingly — given the world’s obsession with all things supernatural in the era of Twilight and True Blood — the show was a massive hit, catapulting Wesley and his co-stars Ian Somerhalder (who plays the irreverent brother and eternal bad boy Damon) and Nina Dobrev (the not-so-damsel-in-distress Elena, who caught the eye of the immortal brothers) to global stardom.

Wesley acknowledges the show’s impact on both his professional and personal life (he remains good friends with Somerhalder and Dobrev to this day), but the actor is more than ready to move on from Stefan and the TVD universe.

“When I get recognized, it's because of Stefan,” Wesley admits. “It's the biggest thing I've ever done, as far as popularity. I've done a bunch of roles since The Vampire Diaries , but nothing has been nearly as popular, so I think you have to get that next thing that puts you into a conversation that involves you and not the character that you're known for playing.”

Luckily for Wesley, that aforementioned renaissance seems to be happening at this exact moment with his portrayal of Kirk in Strange New Worlds . Getting cast in another, arguably even more popular franchise is undoubtedly providing Wesley with the opportunity to play more than just a brooding matinee idol.

“One of the things that excited me about the role of Captain Kirk was the fact that it's such a popular, arguably one of the most, influential characters in the history of television," Wesley explains. “I jumped at this role because it allows me to be something other than Stefan in a big way.”

William Shatner originated the iconic role in 1966 for Star Trek: The Original Series . Shatner and some of Paul’s other predecessors (Chris Pine, for one) have left some pretty big shoes to fill, a fact that would leave some actors ridden with an insurmountable amount of nerves. But Wesley welcomed the challenge, excited to reinvent the starship captain and put his own spin on the revered character, which turned out to be a more buoyant and light-hearted version of the original.

Fans of the universe know that Captain Kirk goes on to lead the U.S.S. Enterprise, though in Strange New Worlds , James is assigned to a different starship, the U.S.S. Farragut. While the new show focuses mostly on Captain Christopher Pike’s (played by Anson Mount ) tenure and exploratory missions, Wesley’s Kirk makes various appearances throughout the season, bringing a dose of comedy and charm along for the ride. In one specific episode, Wesley and his co-star Christina Chong’s characters (she plays La’an Noonien-Singh) travel down to Earth in an ode to an episode from The Original Series , “City on the Edge of Forever,” which also happens to be Wesley’s favorite. It offered Wesley a chance to flex his comedic timing with some bouts of humor while also sharing moments of vulnerability.

“I really just sort of basked in the opportunity that was given to me,” Paul says of the episode. “The good news is Chrissy [Chong] is so funny, and our sense of humor is so similar that we had a good time while shooting that episode. That makes a huge difference. You don't have to fake it. We were just genuinely laughing the entire time, to a point where we would delay shooting.”

Points of comedic relief have become part of the series’s DNA, because although it is a fantasy focused on science and space exploration, Wesley points out that at Trek ’s core, its purpose is to entertain.

“We have to remember it's sort of an escapism, space-adventure show, and it can't take itself too seriously,” he says. “Obviously, there are moments where we have to commit and be serious, but I think a part of the allure of Star Trek is how fun and entertaining it is. I think that's a huge, important facet.”

Whether you’re a Trekkie (the affectionate name given to the franchise’s fandom) or you ogled at the buff vampire during his early days on The CW, it’s easy to understand the appeal that has cemented Wesley as a Hollywood heartthrob. For vampire enthusiasts, it only takes one episode of TVD to be enraptured by his chiseled jawline, lustrous brown hair, and enigmatic persona. But if you ask Paul, he thinks his status as a dreamboat is a “funny” concept.

“I never wake up in the morning and just look in the mirror and think 'I'm a Hollywood heartthrob,'” he jokes. “That's a title that I can't self-proclaim.”

Regardless of his own disdain for the distinction, it’s his genuine, innate goodness that has earned him the honor, along with his traditional good looks, of course. He is charismatic in interviews, down-to-earth, a loyal friend, and his love of animals is both swoon-worthy and admirable. Wesley developed a compassion for creatures during his childhood, spending time on European farms. It made such an impact that he maintains a strict vegan diet for the benefit of both animals and the environment.

“There's a purity to animals. They don't lie, there's nothing manipulative [about them]. They have no agenda, specifically dogs, they just love you. They're so selfless,” he explains. “Frankly, animals don't have a voice, they can't communicate how they feel, so it's our responsibility to put ourselves in their position. I just have a tremendous amount of empathy for animals.”

During the COVID lockdown, like many others, Wesley had a quick stint with fostering puppies — that is, until he fell in love and adopted one of the dogs (a tale as old as time). Gregory, whom he sweetly refers to as his “son,” has become such a big part of Paul’s life that he sometimes even accompanies the actor to set. During InStyle ’s photo shoot, Gregory jumped in a few shots with his dad and quickly stole the show in a Versace necklace turned impromptu collar. Wesley jokes that the drip really went to the pup’s head.

“It looked pretty good on him and he started acting differently,” he says with his signature sarcastic inflection. “He started getting a little snobby.”

Rescuing animals or manning the U.S.S. Farragut are only a few things on the actor’s docket. While he’s keen to evolve beyond his past, Wesley isn’t leaving his TVD family behind. He’s currently working on an undisclosed project with Vampire Diaries creator Julie Plec, and he shares a bourbon brand, Brother’s Bond , with his close friend and on-screen brother Somerhalder. Wesley and Dobrev were even toying around with the idea of creating a comedy together, though they’ve since put a pin in that (for now). At the end of the day, Wesley knows the key to longevity in this business is to forge your own opportunities, so the actor and production company owner’s goal is to continue to create new content and be the captain of his own ship.

“I don't like to just sit back and wait for roles to come to me,” he says. “Sometimes they do and they're awesome, like Star Trek , but other times I like to just create my own path. It's very rewarding.”

Read on to find out Paul’s unexpected foray into fanfic, his go-to bagel order, and why the first thing he does in the morning is hug Gregory.

What is your coffee or tea order? I'm a coffee guy. I need it. I am a big fan of oat milk. I do this oat milk cappuccino. Whatever you want to give me with oat, I'm in.

What is your favorite food? Gosh, when I go to an Italian restaurant, I don't get anything sophisticated. I always get a spaghetti pomodoro. I know if it's a good restaurant, the spaghetti pomodoro's really good.

Do you have a favorite movie? I don't and I do. There are so many movies that I love, but for some reason I have very specific [taste]. I'm drawn to Martin Scorsese's film, Goodfellas . I watched it when I was younger and I just fell in love with the world that he had created. I grew up on the East Coast with that sort of gangster vibe, and I loved it.

What was the first album you owned? I used to listen to a lot of hip-hop when I was in high school. I used to listen to Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, and Snoop Dogg, and I had all their … it wasn't an album, it was cassettes, for you kids. We used to listen to cassettes, not the iTunes thing.

Paul Wesley

Do you have a favorite book? I do have a favorite book. It's a book that I read as a kid, and I just fell in love with this book. It's probably the first book I read that I really loved when I was a teenager and it's, The Catcher in the Rye . Very cliché answer.

Who is your favorite Hollywood Chris? Remember the guy, Chris Kattan from Saturday Night Live [and] A Night at the Roxbury ? That guy.

Who is your favorite villain? I loved Joaquin Phoenix's Joker. I thought it was so dynamic and interesting.

What is your bagel order? I grew up in New Jersey, where the bagels are really good, and I can't seem to find a good bagel in Los Angeles, so that's a problem. But I'm all about the everything bagel. Give me the everything, always.

Do you believe in astrology? I don't know. I went to an astrologer once and everything he said was incorrect, so maybe I just got a bad astrologer. I think there's some merit to it.

What do you know about your sun sign, Leo? I know that Leo's love their hair and I also know that Leo's tend to be the loudest in the room. I'm not really that, and I think it's because I'm a bit of a blend of Leo and Cancer. The Cancers are a little more subdued. I think I've inherited a lot of those traits from my Cancer energy.

What is something you wish you were better at? Answering questions for This Guy.

What is the first thing you do when you wake up? I have my coffee situation. If I'm in L.A., I'm with my dog. First thing I do is hug him. We have this thing, because he likes to sleep on the couch. He doesn't really like to sleep in the bed with me, so then I'll go to the living room and then I have to hug him. Then, I get my coffee.

What’s the last thing you do before bed? I've been trying not to look at my phone late. What helps me fall asleep is reading. It's immediate, within two pages, I'm out, so I'm going to make a very concerted effort to stay off my phone and just read.

What's the craziest thing you ever did for love? I don't know about the craziest thing I ever did for love, but when I was really young, I took my dad's credit card and I bought — I'm not exaggerating — like a nine-foot teddy bear and had it sent to a girl's house.

What do you miss about playing Stefan Salvatore? I don't really miss anything about playing him, and I don't mean that in a [negative way]. Eight years is a long time, and I'm so glad to put that to rest. Eight seasons. But I loved how dynamic he was. Because the show ran for such a long time, in order for it to not become monotonous, every season, he sort of had a different arc. At one point he was pure evil, and he started out as the good guy and then he ended as the good guy. But I liked the challenge of trying to keep the character fresh.

Have you ever read any fan theories for The Vampire Diaries ? A fan theory? No. A fanfiction about me and Ian Somerhalder being lovers. But other than that, no fan theories.

Do you have a favorite episode from the original Star Trek series? My favorite episodes in general are the ones where they time travel or go to Earth. There's one specific episode that I love, “City on the Edge of Tomorrow.” I love that episode. I love Kirk's moral dilemma of meeting somebody who he can't sort of take with him when he goes back to his timeline and his world that he lives in. I thought it was a really powerful episode. And also just something about Kirk and Spock being fish out of water in the past or on Earth. [There] was just something really special about breaking free from being on the Enterprise and going to Earth. And we actually did a little bit of that in season 2 of Strange New Worlds .

What do you love about being from New Jersey? Oh, it's a very difficult question. No, I'm kidding. I love the proximity to Manhattan. No, I'm kidding. I do love the Jersey Shore, even though the show gave it a bad name. There's so many parts of the Jersey Shore that are so beautiful that weren't in the TV series, The Jersey Shore . I like that it's sort of so central to Manhattan, which is arguably the greatest city in America, if not the world. And 45 minutes south, you have this suburban neighborhood, which is where I grew up. I like that sort of escape.

When was the last time you cried and why? Actually, I cried last night. I didn't cry, but I got teared up. I'm very late to the game and I was watching Succession , and it was the scene where — spoiler alert — Logan dies and his kids are on the phone saying goodbye to him. And it was just fantastic, and I teared up.

Describe a memorable dream. I don't remember my dreams. I remember them as everyone else in the morning for three minutes, and then I'm like, "Wow, that was interesting." And then I literally forget it every time. I don't understand why. I think maybe the brain can only process so much. I have memorable nightmares. Not memorable dreams, really, unfortunately.

Is there one place that you've never been that you've always wanted to go? I've never been to Africa. I've been to many, many places, and I've never been to Africa. I would absolutely love to go.

What initially got you into acting at such a young age? I was kicked off the hockey team. I didn't have anything to do. I started doing theater, and I grew up in New Jersey, which is really close to Manhattan, so I started doing these little acting workshops in Manhattan for fun. And an agent saw me and said, "Do you want to audition for things?" I said, "Sure." And then boom, that was it. I also always imitated people growing up for whatever reason, and I sort of always enjoyed going into other people's mannerisms or their mentality. And so I think I sort of just had a genuine interest in that for whatever bizarre psychological reason. You'll have to ask my parents.

How would you describe your personal style and how has it evolved over the years? To be honest with you, I wish my style was a little bit more. I mean, I always used to say that I don't want to look at photos of myself 10 years from now and be like, "What was I thinking?" I mean, inevitably, we all tend to do that, though. I like to keep it safe — sometimes too safe. It's like black and grays and whites and that's it, and everything's basic. I'm a little envious of people that can sort of create these really cool styles and it's a sort of representation of their personality.

I'm a play-it-safe guy, because my brain isn't wired for that kind of thing, but I have a great deal of respect for really good stylists [who] can bring that. I'm always like, "Oh, man, that's so cool. I wish I could've come up with that myself."

Is there an outfit you regret wearing? When I was younger, I was really into hip-hop, and back in the day you had to wear really baggy pants to be cool. There are some photos of me when I was like 16, 15. I swear to god, [I] look like I'm swimming in my pants. They're super wide, I used to wear these JNCO jeans. It's just regrettable and so embarrassing.

What is a dream role that you would love to play? Boy, I'll tell you, if I wasn't playing Captain Kirk, I may very well have said Captain Kirk. Dream role. I guess if they were to remake Goodfellas — which I hope they don't — maybe I can have a part in Goodfellas working with Scorsese. I don't think he would remake his own film, but one can dream.

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‘star trek: strange new worlds’ casts captain kirk: paul wesley to play iconic character.

The 'Vampire Diaries' actor will step into the sci-fi role made famous by William Shatner.

By James Hibberd

James Hibberd

Writer-at-Large

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There is a new James T. Kirk.

Star Trek : Strange New Worlds has cast actor Paul Wesley in the iconic sci-fi role.

The Vampire Diaries actor will join the upcoming Paramount+ series in the show’s second season, which is in production in Toronto. In an unusual move, the second-season casting is being announced before the first season has debuted.

Above is a first-look image of Wesley in character on what’s presumably the U.S.S. Enterprise bridge.

“Paul is an accomplished actor, an astonishing presence and a welcome key addition to the show,” said executive producer Alex Kurtzman and co-showrunners Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers in a statement. “Like all of us, he is a life-long Star Trek fan and we are excited by his interpretation of this iconic role.”

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Vampire Diaries star Paul Wesley to play Captain Kirk on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

The former Stefan Salvatore will join the Trek series in its second season.

Paul Wesley is boldly going where two actors have gone before.

The former Vampire Diaries star will play James T. Kirk on the second season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , the newest addition to the Trek TV universe . The news comes ahead of the series' scheduled May 5 debut on Paramount+; production on season 2 is currently underway in Toronto. (You can get a first look at Wesley as Kirk in the photo below.)

Strange New Worlds executive producers Alex Kurtzman, Akiva Goldsman, and Henry Alonso Myers said in a joint statement, "Paul is an accomplished actor, an astonishing presence and a welcome key addition to the show. Like all of us, he is a life-long Star Trek fan and we are excited by his interpretation of this iconic role."

The character of Kirk, of course, was first played by William Shatner on Star Trek: The Original Series , and later taken up by Chris Pine in J.J. Abrams ' rebooted films. Pine will ( supposedly ) reprise the role in a new Trek movie , with WandaVision 's Matt Shakman directing and Abrams producing.

Strange New Worlds , meanwhile, will go back in time to follow Captain Christopher Pike at the helm of the USS Enterprise . Several actors are set to reprise their roles from Star Trek: Discovery 's second season, which was set around the same time, including Anson Mount as Captain Pike, Rebecca Romijn as Number One, and Ethan Peck as Science Officer Spock. The series will focus on the trio in the years before Kirk boarded the Enterprise (well, apparently not that many years before) as they explore, you guessed it, strange new worlds around the galaxy.

As for the rest of the Star Trek content-verse, Discovery is set to wrap up its fourth season this Thursday, while Picard — which features Patrick Stewart returning as the Next Generation captain — recently began its second season on Paramount+.

How The Vampire Diaries Prepared Paul Wesley To Play Star Trek's Captain Kirk

The final episode of the first season of " Star Trek: Strange New Worlds " — titled "A Quality of Mercy" — ran a "What If...?" scenario that put Captain Pike (Anson Mount) in the Enterprise's captain's chair during the events of the original series episode "Balance of Terror." In this parallel universe (provided by some handy-dandy Klingon time crystals) Pike was also allowed to meet Captain Kirk (Paul Wesley), who was captain of a ship called the U.S.S. Farragut. Pike and Kirk were not only able to converse, but Trekkies also received the opportunity to juxtapose the two men's command styles. Pike, cool-headed and affable, preferred nonviolence and genial diplomacy, whereas Kirk preferred tactical cunning and battlefield savvy. The episode proves that Pike's approach might not have had the same outcome. It's a fun episode, even if it does lean full-bore into fan service.

Captain Kirk, we may all agree, will always be William Shatner. Despite Chris Pine's turn in the role (and that doesn't really count anyway), Shatner, now 91, co-invented Kirk back in 1966 and has been his face ever since. Wesley, in playing a young Kirk — especially "Balance of Terror" Kirk — once revealed that he couldn't go to Shatner for advice due to a combination of NDAs and not wanting to bother the elder actor who just returned from space. As such, he would have to go it alone.

Luckily, as he explained in a recent Variety interview , Wesley had "The Vampire Diaries" to fall back on. Not necessarily to give him information on how to play Kirk, but acting in "Diaries" gave Wesley first-hand knowledge as to what rabid fandom looked like, and was able to vividly experience the species of fans he was destined to have to please.

The cult family

When asked about the stresses of stepping into such a well-known pop culture role, Wesley responded with excitement. Who, after all, wouldn't want the opportunity to play Captain Kirk? Wesley may not look a lot like a young William Shatner, but he does have that certain focused authority that Shatner brought to the role. Give that this was " alternate timeline " Kirk, Wesley likely also felt a certain leeway in straying from many of Shatner's mannerisms or line delivery.

Wesley played the role of Stefan Salvatore on "The Vampire Diaries," the central vampire character beloved by Elena (Nina Dobrev) and at odds with — and eventually allied to — his vampire brother Damon (Ian Somerhalder). This is perhaps the shortest summation possible of an eight-season supernatural soap opera riddled with twists and complications. In the Variety interview, Wesley talks about his experiences starring in a soap — one with millions of passionate fans — and how that parlayed, in his mind, to Trekkie-dom. He said it wasn't the same crowd, but explained that the spirit was the same:

"It feels amazing. First of all, I was part of a cult-y family, in a sense — I don't mean cult in a bad way. I mean, a cult classic. You know, 'Vampire Diaries' was obviously a different audience. It was much more younger skewing. It was a very successful show. We created our own fanhood — there was a real community that was built around it. There were multiple spinoffs."

The 2013 series "The Originals" was a spinoff of "The Vampire Diaries." It's worth noting that Wesley also directed several episodes of "Diaries."

Trekkies vs. Diarists

" Strange New Worlds " would also have Wesley relating to Shatner in an unexpected way. Shatner, while having enjoyed a long acting career, has also acquired a lifelong connection to "Star Trek" that must have been something of a curse for many years; It's hard to find extra work once you've been pigeonholed into a single role. Wesley, in being associated with "The Vampire Diaries" needed a project that would allow him to break out of his mold. Kirk seemed to be it:

"['Diaries' is] much smaller than the 'Star Trek' world. But I know what it's like to be involved in those worlds, in the spotlight, so to speak. And frankly, my goal after 'Vampire Diaries' was to do something that took me out of that world in a way, because you don't really want to be stuck in that world forever. As an actor, as an artist, as a person, you want to evolve. You want to try different things."

There is certainly a poetic irony that Wesley used Kirk to "break out," when the role had previously been the thing Shatner needed to break out of. Indeed, the Venn diagram between the two may overlap more than Wesley acknowledges: Creation Entertainment — the company behind most large-scale pop culture conventions — has long run Trek cons as well as Diaries/Originals cons . Both Wesley and Shatner could likely trade stories of answering fan questions from stage and signing hundreds upon hundreds of 8x10 glossies.

A more adult level

Wesley also felt that Trek was a way to get an older audience. "The Vampire Diaries" was a CW romance series that appealed to teens. He was quick, in the Variety interview, to point out that he does indeed love the "Diaries" audiences, but that he himself feels like he may be aging out of being a teen heartthrob. As of this writing, Wesley has just turned 40, and being the hunk on a vampire series is not only not feasible for him as an actor, but also as a human being who ages. Wesley says as much:

"So when this opportunity came along, I said, 'Of course, I want to jump into it.' This to me feels like the next evolution for me as a man now. I'm in my late 30s. I want to go to that next phase. I don't mean to demean 'Vampire Diaries'; it's awesome. But I mean, 'Star Trek' feels like a more adult level of that. So I was very excited to move on to that next phase of my life."

While plenty of teens watch "Star Trek," one might say with confidence that it has a much larger and more diverse audience than " The Vampire Diaries ." Wesley's playing of Kirk seemed to serve a twofold purpose. It let him grow as an actor, but it also to break him onto a new tier of geekdom. He'll still be attending the conventions, but he will now be answering new questions for larger crowds. And when it comes to signing autographs, he is ostensibly rehearsed.

‘Vampire Diaries’ Alum Paul Wesley Joins ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ as James T. Kirk

Wesley will play the character first originated by “Star Trek” icon William Shatner

Paul Wesley, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Paul Wesley of “The Vampire Diaries” is taking on the iconic role of James T. Kirk in Season 2 of “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” Paramount+ announced Tuesday.

Paramount+ called Wesley’s character “James T. Kirk” in a release, but it sure looks like he’s sitting in a captain’s chair in the image of the actor in costume, also shared Tuesday afternoon.

The role was originated by William Shatner.

Executive Producer Alex Kurtzman and showrunners/executive producers Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers said in a statement “Paul is an accomplished actor, an astonishing presence and a welcome key addition to the show. Like all of us, he is a life-long Star Trek fan and we are excited by his interpretation of this iconic role.”

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds | Teaser Trailer | Paramount+

Production is currently underway on the show’s second season in Toronto. The first season of the show, starring Anson Mount as Capt. Christopher Pike, premieres Thursday, May 5 on Paramount+.

The series is based on the years Pike manned the U.S.S. Enterprise. Season 1 will feature Mount as Pike, Rebecca Romijn as Number One, and Ethan Peck as Science Officer Spock. The series follows the three in the years before Kirk boarded the Enterprise.

The drama also stars lso stars Jess Bush as Nurse Christine Chapel, Christina Chong as La’an Noonien-Singh, Celia Rose Gooding as Cadet Nyota Uhura, Melissa Navia as Lt. Erica Ortegas and Babs Olusanmokun as Dr. M’Benga.

The series premiere was written by Goldsman with the story by Goldsman, \Kurtzman and Jenny Lumet. Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers serve as co-showrunners. Goldsman directed the premiere episode. Goldsman, Kurtzman and Lumet serve as executive producers in addition to Alonso Myers, Heather Kadin, Frank Siracusa, John Weber, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth and Aaron Baiers. The series is produced by CBS Studios, Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment.

Wesley played vampire Stefan Salvatore from 2009-2017. He followed up that starring role with “Tell Me a Story” on Paramount+.

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‘Vampire Diaries’ Paul Wesley Cast As James T. Kirk in ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Season 2

paul wesley as kirk on strange new worlds

Where to Stream:

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

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Stream it or skip it: 'star trek: prodigy' season 2 on netflix, where the ragtag group of teen starfleet trainees join janeway on a dangerous mission, 'star trek iii' at 40: the story of how (and why) leonard nimoy brought spock back after being killed off in 'the wrath of khan', 'star trek: strange new worlds' renewed for season 4 at paramount+.

Looks like Paul Wesley is trading in his vampire teeth for a captain’s chair — or at least, space. The former Vampire Diairies star is joining Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 in the iconic role of James T. Kirk.

“Paul is an accomplished actor, an astonishing presence and a welcome key addition to the show. Like all of us, he is a life-long Star Trek fan and we are excited by his interpretation of this iconic role,” Executive Producer Alex Kurtzman and Showrunners/Executive Producers Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers said in a statement provided to Decider.

Strange New Worlds doesn’t premiere until May 5 on Paramount+, but Season 2 is already in production in Toronto. A spinoff of Star Trek: Discovery , Strange New Worlds follows the adventures of Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) years before Kirk took command of the Enterprise . The show also stars Rebecca Romijn as Number One, Ethan Peck as Science Officer Spock, and more.

So how does Kirk fit into this? The role, previously played by William Shatner, and then more recently by Chris Pine in the reboot movies, had a long history with Starfleet before he took over the Enterprise from Pike. In the same period depicted on Strange New Worlds , Kirk was a Starfleet Academy instructor, followed by a stint on the USS Farragut . As to how he comes into contact with Pike and crew in Season 2? That’s TBD.

Wesley, for his part, has been busy with a lot more than vampires since his role on The CW hit ended. In addition to directing episodes of Roswell, New Mexico, Shadowhunters and Legacies , he’s built up a career Off-Broadway, as well as starring on TV in Paramount’s Tell Me a Story , and on Netflix in Medal of Honor . He’ll also co-star with Stephanie Beatriz in Shudder’s History of Evil .

Still, getting cast as the new Kirk is a Big Deal, and despite the reported done-in-one nature of Strange New Worlds episodes, it certainly seems the show has a lot more on its agenda than just visiting some quirky, new planets. Will Pike and Kirk come to blows? Or team up? That too, is TBD.

The 10-episode first season of Strange New Worlds premieres May 5.

Where to watch Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

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Star Trek's Paul Wesley Strongly Clarifies Recent Vampire Diaries Comments, Explains Why He's Open To Many Years Of Playing Kirk

He laid out the differences between the two franchises.

Actor Paul Wesley is crushing it as James T. Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , but even so, there's a community of fantasy fans out there still holding out hope to see him return to his former franchise. Those hopes were dashed recently when Wesley went viral explaining why he wouldn't return to The Vampire Diaries , noting that eight years on a show was long. CinemaBlend wondered if that same mindset translated to playing Kirk in Trek and got a passionate response from the actor about the differences between the two.

I had a chance to speak to Paul Wesley recently, and during our conversation, I brought up the fact that many Trek actors have reprised their roles throughout their lifetimes. As the heir apparent to playing James T. Kirk from this point on, I noted he could be called on to play him in other projects and questioned if he was up for that, given the comments he made about never returning to The Vampire Diaries . Wesley enthusiastically set the record straight on his original comments, with a bit of key context that better explained his response:

Man, I gotta tell you, I'm so annoyed because I was doing a little interview for InStyle, and they were like, ‘Hey would you want to do a reboot of Vampire?’ And I was just like, ‘No!’ I made a joke, ‘Hard pass, no I’m good,’ and everything. And it’s like every fucking news outlet picked it up! Like, dude, slow news day? My God. I obviously don’t want to do a reboot of Vampire Diaries for a million reasons. First of all, when I did that role, I was 26 years old, and vampires are not supposed to age. I can’t do a reboot for obvious reasons.

Paul Wesley won't return for any reboot of The Vampire Diaries , partly because he doesn't look the same as when he first played Stefan Salvatore. As he mentioned, vampires aren't supposed to age, and while I'd say he's aged gracefully since the show ended in 2017, he would not look the same as he did back then.

And while Paul Wesley doesn't see a future where he's back in The Vampire Diaries universe, he seems ready and willing to pop up in projects as James T. Kirk to entertain those with a Paramount+ subscription for as long as the ride will last. Wesley laid out the difference between the two franchises and why he sees a future in playing Kirk in a way he doesn't Stefan:

Star Trek is timeless. Vampire Diaries is not timeless. It existed in that time, and I think it was an amazing series, and I think it should stay in that [time]. [If] they want to do spinoffs? Great. I just think let’s leave it. Whereas Star Trek is like this show from the sixties that, in a way, invites reboots, invites spinoffs. There’s so much left to explore. There were only three seasons! Obviously, there’s been some films and stuff, but I think there’s just so much room for expansion. We had 22 episodes a year for eight years [on Vampire Diaries]. Big difference.

As a Star Trek fan, I'm beyond thrilled to hear Paul Wesley talk about the future he sees for his role beyond Strange New Worlds . I'm not nearly as big of a fan of The Vampire Diaries , but if I were, I think I would officially close the door on Wesley returning for any type of spinoff , reboot, or otherwise. The good news is there's a healthy library of episodes to revisit for those who miss him as Stefan.

Paul Wesley first joined Star Trek: Strange New Worlds in the Season 1 finale and has already shown up in one adventure of Season 2. To be clear, he's not the star of the show and looking to take over for Anson Mount's Pike as head of the Enterprise . He does seem very interested, however, in telling more stories with Kirk elsewhere, as he told CinemaBlend when talking about the Picard reference to his character . I'm certainly game to see him do that, as well as continue the storylines he's a part of in Strange New Worlds .

Catch new episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Thursdays on Paramount+. As for The Vampire Diaries , it's available for Max and Peacock subscribers looking to reminisce on the prime days of vampire-centric programming on television.

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Mick Joest is a Content Producer for CinemaBlend with his hand in an eclectic mix of television goodness. Star Trek is his main jam, but he also regularly reports on happenings in the world of Star Trek, WWE, Doctor Who, 90 Day Fiancé, Quantum Leap, and Big Brother. He graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Radio and Television. He's great at hosting panels and appearing on podcasts if given the chance as well.

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‘Vampire Diaries’ star cast as Captain Kirk in ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’

Paul Wesley, star of The Vampire Diaries , has joined Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , as none other than James T. Kirk, joining an already-packed cast.

Wesley, who made his breakout in the long-running CW series The Vampire Diaries , will follow in the footsteps of William Shatner and Chris Pine and take up the much-coveted gold Enterprise shirt.

Wesley will join the cast in the show’s second season, which has already been greenlit before the first season has aired as Paramount ramps up its Trekkie content. Wesley tweeted about his casting, saying he was “deeply humbled” to be given the opportunity to play the role, expressing admiration for Shatner and for the universe of Star Trek .

I am deeply humbled and still a little startled to have been given the honor of playing the inimitable James T Kirk. Ever since I was a kid, I have been awed by the imaginative world Gene Roddenberry created. Recently, I boarded a flight to LA to discover that the man in the pic.twitter.com/U8GVD4ZemP — Paul Wesley (@paulwesley) March 15, 2022

Wesley went on to share a story of when he was seated next to Shatner on an airplane, along with a selfie documenting the moment.

course I had to get a picture. So thanks Mr. Shatner for the good company. And for seating us together, my thanks to the great bird in the sky. Can’t wait for all of you to see our Captain Kirk on your screens. — Paul Wesley (@paulwesley) March 15, 2022

Shatner later thanked Wesley for his kind words, asking the actor to keep his “ship and crew safe, Captain!”

@paulwesley Keep my ship and crew safe, Captain! 😉 Congratulations! — William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) March 16, 2022

The series is set 10 years prior to Shatner’s Star Trek: The Original Series era, with Anson Mount reprising his role from Star Trek: Beyond as Christopher Pike. Strange New Worlds also sees Rebecca Romijn return from Beyond , as Una-Chin Riley.

Strange New Worlds will join Paramount’s rich selection of content from the now-expanded universe of Gene Rodenberry, which already includes Beyond , Short Treks , Picard , Lower Decks , and Prodigy . The cinematic future of Star Trek is less in stone, with a fourth film greenlit last month but no script shown to cast members like Karl Urban yet.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will premiere May 5, with 10 episodes confirmed for its first season.

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‘Vampire Diaries’ Alum Paul Wesley Joins ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ as James T. Kirk

Paul Wesley of “The Vampire Diaries” is taking on the iconic role of James T. Kirk in Season 2 of “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” Paramount+ announced Tuesday.

The role was originated by William Shatner.

Production is currently underway on the show’s second season in Toronto. The first season of the show, starring Anson Mount as Capt. Christopher Pike, premieres Thursday, May 5 on Paramount+.

Wesley played vampire Stefan Salvatore from 2009-2017. He followed up that starring role with “Tell Me a Story” on Paramount+.

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The Vampire Diaries' Paul Wesley joins Star Trek actress in new TV drama

Flowers in the Attic: The Origin is on its way.

The actor, who is best known for playing bloodsucker Stefan Salvatore on the long-running supernatural show, is set to share the screen with The White Queen 's Max Irons and Star Trek: Voyager 's Kate Mulgrew in the star-studded drama, which takes place before the events of V. C. Andrews' gothic novel.

Based on Andrew Neiderman's literary follow-up Garden of Shadows , the four-episode outing follows Olivia Winfield ( Gold Digger 's Jemima Rooper), a headstrong young woman who finds herself falling for one of the nation's most eligible bachelors Malcolm Foxworth (Irons).

stefan salvatore holding a coffee cup, the vampire diaries

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Their romance takes an unexpected turn, though, when she becomes the mistress of Malcolm's formidable estate, and discovers dark secrets linked to her new partner's past.

In a desperate attempt to keep those around her safe, Olivia is forced to become the wickedest version of herself, which eventually paves way for her inevitable, notorious decision to lock her grandchildren in the loft.

Wesley will play Olivia's cousin John Atmos, while additional cast members include Harry Hamlin ( Mad Men ), Alana Boden ( Alex Rider ), Hannah Dodd ( Harlots ), T'Shan Williams ( The Color Purple), Callum Kerry ( Four Weddings and a Funeral ) and Frasier 's Kelsey Grammer. The latter plays Malcolm's respected father Garland Foxworth.

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Elsewhere, Mulgrew is tasked with bringing Mrs. Steiner, the loyal house manager and head of the Foxworth Hall staff, to life.

Greenlit by Lifetime, Flowers in the Attic: The Origin has been adapted to screen by Paul Sciarrotta ( Jane the Virgi n ), Jennie Snyder Urman and Joanna Klein. All three will act as executive producers on the project.

Robin Hood 's Declan O'Dwyer has been lined up to direct the first two chapters, with Robin Sheppard ( Benidorm ) helming parts three and four.

In the latest edition of Digital Spy Magazine, we reflect on the 50 most groundbreaking soap characters of all time. Read every issue now with a 1-month free trial, only on Apple News+ .

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Paul Wesley explains the differences between Star Trek and Vampire Diaries

By chad porto | nov 17, 2023.

Paul Wesley as Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, streaming on Paramount+, 2023. Photo Cr: Kharen Hill/Paramount+

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’s Paul Wesley explains why he’d do Star Trek over Vampire Diaries.

Paul Wesley rose to fame in the late 2000s thanks to his turn on the acclaimed CW show, The Vampire Diaries. In it, he played Stefan Salvatore, one of the most popular characters the show has ever seen. And it’s a role that helped him break into bigger roles.

Yet, he doesn’t want to keep playing Stefan Salvatore, and he upset everyone he could possibly think of with that sentiment. Speaking to InStyle, they asked him if he’d return to the series if it was rebooted, to which Wesley dismissed. And at the same time, Wesley made it clear he’d keep playing James Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds for as long as he could.

This got some people angry at him but in an interview with Cinemablend, Wesley revealed why he wouldn’t return to Vampire Diaries but would keep with Trek, saying;

"First of all, when I did that role, I was 26 years old, and vampires are not supposed to age. I can’t do a reboot for obvious reasons.Star Trek is timeless. Vampire Diaries is not timeless. It existed in that time, and I think it was an amazing series, and I think it should stay in that [time]. [If] they want to do spinoffs? Great. I just think let’s leave it. Whereas Star Trek is like this show from the sixties that, in a way, invites reboots, invites spinoffs. There’s so much left to explore. There were only three seasons! Obviously, there’s been some films and stuff, but I think there’s just so much room for expansion. We had 22 episodes a year for eight years [on Vampire Diaries]. Big difference."

Paul Wesley is right about Star Trek

Star Trek is a property that can last for a long time, because as life continues, the franchise can find new stories to tell to the audiences, all while picking an appropriate time period to tell these stories. Actors can age naturally, and still be used in various roles regardless of the situation. It’s one of the best things about Star Trek as opposed to other franchises. If one series ends, another can start and focus on different characters, while then bringing in popular former characters in a crossover.

That’s the beauty of Trek and due to the science-nature concept of Trek, you can find ways of bringing back characters in all sorts of ways. Take for instance the Lower Decks and Strange New Worlds crossover, where the Enterprise brought in members of the Cerritos, despite the fact the Cerritos was from over 100 years in the future.

You can’t do that so seamlessly in series like the Vampire Dairies, not without recasting.

Next. 5 reasons fans never fully embraced Star Trek: Discovery. dark

‘Vampire Diaries’ star Paul Wesley cast as James T. Kirk in ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’

By Kara Santos Published Mar 16, 2022 1:32 pm

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has cast Vampire Diaries alum Paul Wesley in the iconic role of James T. Kirk for the Paramount Plus show’s second season.

Strange New Worlds is due to premiere on Paramount Plus on May 5. The Star Trek series was renewed for a second season back in January, with that season already in production.

The show follows the adventures of Captain Christopher Pike, the predecessor to James T. Kirk becoming captain of the starship USS Enterprise. Wesley, who is best known for his lead role in the supernatural drama series The Vampire Diaries , will appear as a young version of Kirk.

Hello there, Jim 👋 @paulwesley will join #StarTrek #StrangeNewWorlds Season 2 as James T. Kirk! pic.twitter.com/71nYL2czUb — Star Trek on Paramount+ (@StarTrekOnPPlus) March 15, 2022

Wesley is now the third actor to play the character of Captain Kirk in a live-action project. Most famously, William Shatner played Kirk in all episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series as well as in multiple films. Chris Pine has played an alternative young version of the character in the 2009 Star Trek film reboot, and r eprised his role in Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) and in Star Trek Beyond ( 2016).

A fourth film is in production, with Pine, Zachary Quinto (Spock), Zoe Saldana (Nyota Uhura), Karl Urban (Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy), John Cho (Hikaru Sulu) and Simon Pegg (Montgomery “Scotty” Scott) set to reprise their roles.

Wesley is best known for playing Stefan Salvatore in The CW drama series The Vampire Diaries , where he starred for eight seasons and just over 170 episodes. He has also starred in films like Roll Bounce , Peaceful Warrior , and Before I Disappear , the last of which he also produced.

“Paul is an accomplished actor, an astonishing presence and a welcome key addition to the show,” said Strange New Worlds executive producer Alex Kurtzman and showrunners and executive producers Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers. “Like all of us, he is a life-long ‘Star Trek’ fan and we are excited by his interpretation of this iconic role.”

After the news broke, Wesley tweeted that he was “deeply humbled and still a little startled” to have been given the honor to play James Kirk.

“Ever since I was a kid, I have been awed by the imaginative world Gene Roddenberry created,” the actor posted Wednesday (March 16).

I am deeply humbled and still a little startled to have been given the honor of playing the inimitable James T Kirk. Ever since I was a kid, I have been awed by the imaginative world Gene Roddenberry created. Recently, I boarded a flight to LA to discover that the man in the pic.twitter.com/U8GVD4ZemP var adpushup = window.adpushup = window.adpushup || {}; adpushup.que = adpushup.que || []; adpushup.que.push(function() { adpushup.triggerAd("8f8422be-bf62-4624-b102-e4a9391e58fc"); }); — Paul Wesley (@paulwesley) March 15, 2022

Along with a screenshot of a news article confriming the casting news, Wesley added a photo sharing that he coincidentally sat next to Shatner on a flight to Los Angeles after Shatner’s recent trip into low Earth orbit on Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space shuttle.

“I could barely put two words together but ultimately I managed to say hello and we chatted,” Wesley wrote. “I’m not one who usually believes in fate but this was more than a coincidence… So, thanks Mr. Shatner for the good company. And for seating us together, my thanks to the great bird in the sky. Can’t wait for all of you to see our Captain Kirk on your screens.”

Shatner himself has given his blessing for the role.

"Keep my ship and crew safe, Captain! Congratulations," Shatner wrote on Twitter.

Passing the conn. #StarTrek #StrangeNewWorlds pic.twitter.com/5jIeEXDErh — Star Trek on Paramount+ (@StarTrekOnPPlus) March 16, 2022

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds also stars Anson Mount as Capt. Pike, Ethan Peck as Spock, and Rebecca Romijn as Una Chin-Riley aboard the Enterprise prior to the events of the original Star Trek series.

Check out the teaser for the first season of the new Star Trek series below.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is all set to engage on Paramount Plus on May 5, 2022.

TAGS: Star Trek Paramount Plus Star Trek Strange New Worlds James T. Kirk Captain Kirk Paul Wesley

Kara Santos

Kara Santos is a freelance writer and photographer based in Manila. Her blog at www.traveling-up.com is where she writes about travel, motorcycling, and food trips.

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‘Vampire Diaries’ Cast: Where Are They Now? Ian Somerhalder, Nina Dobrev and More

The Vampire Diaries Cast Where Are They Now

The Vampire Diaries ’ 2009 premiere introduced fans to one of the most memorable vampire-themed series to date.

The CW show, which ran for eight seasons until 2017, took place in the fictional town of Mystic Falls, Virginia , home to mythical creatures and humans alike . In addition to tales of people becoming vampires, or finding out they have powers — which was the case with Bonnie Bennett ( Kat Graham ) — the series brought to life one of the most memorable TV love triangles .

After teenager Elena Gilbert ( Nina Dobrev ) fell for vampire Stefan Salvatore ( Paul Wesley ) and later his bad boy brother, Damon Salvatore ( Ian Somerhalder ), fans were forced to decide which of the two heartthrobs they’d want to romance. Although Elena did choose one over the other by season 8, many of the show’s fanbase are divided between Team Stefan and Team Damon .

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Offscreen, the cast — which also included Candice Accola , Michael Trevino , Joseph Morgan and many more — formed a lifelong bond, which has remained strong partially due to a group text .

Scroll down to see what TVD cast has been up to since it premiered.

Credit: Chelsea Lauren/WireImage/Getty Images

The Vampire Diaries ’ 2009 premiere introduced fans to one of the most memorable vampire-themed series to date. The CW show, which ran for eight seasons until 2017, took place in the fictional town of Mystic Falls, Virginia , home to mythical creatures and humans alike . In addition to tales of people becoming vampires, or finding out they have powers — which was the case with Bonnie Bennett ( Kat Graham ) — the series brought to life one of the most memorable TV love triangles . After teenager Elena Gilbert ( Nina Dobrev ) fell for vampire Stefan Salvatore ( Paul Wesley ) and later his bad boy brother, Damon Salvatore ( Ian Somerhalder ), fans were forced to decide which of the two heartthrobs they’d want to romance. Although Elena did choose one over the other by season 8, many of the show’s fanbase are divided between Team Stefan and Team Damon . Offscreen, the cast — which also included Candice Accola , Michael Trevino , Joseph Morgan and many more — formed a lifelong bond, which has remained strong partially due to a group text . Scroll down to see what TVD cast has been up to since it premiered.

Credit: Shutterstock (2)

Ian Somerhalder

Somerhalder went from playing vampire Damon on TVD to portraying vampire research physician Luther Swann on V-Wars , which he also produced. He then appeared on Good Mythical Morning and landed a role in Time Framed . The Louisiana native teamed up with his former onscreen brother, Wesley, to create Brother’s Bond Bourbon in 2020.

The Lost alum wed Nikki Reed in 2015 and two years later they welcomed their first child, daughter Bodhi. The duo announced in January 2023 that Reed was pregnant with baby No. 2 and Reed gave birth to their son that June.

Paul Wesley

The New Jersey native followed up his role as Stefan Salvatore by narrating the short film Aliens . Wesley also began playing Tucker Reed on Tell Me a Story in 2018. The actor has both producer and director credits to his name, including work on the short films Ashmina and Anna and directing episodes of Legacies and Batwoman . Wesley joined Star Trek: Strange Worlds as Captain Kirk in 2022.

Wesley and actress Torrey DeVitto split after two years of marriage in 2013. The actor got remarried in 2019 to Ines de Ramon . Us confirmed in September 2022 that Wesley and de Ramon had split. He moved on with Natalie Kuckenburg in November 2022.

Nina Dobrev

Despite playing the leading role of Elena Gilbert — who famously romanced brothers Stefan and Damon Salvatore — Dobrev (who also played Elena’s doppelganger Katherine Pierce) left the show in 2015, but returned for the series finale in 2017. The Bulgaria native then appeared in Flatliners , Dog Days , Run This Town and Lucky Day . She played Clem on the short-lived series Fam as well. Dobrev will make her debut as a producer with the upcoming film Sick Girl .

Us confirmed in May 2013 that Dobrev and Somerhalder split after dating for three years. The Canada-raised star has been dating snowboarder Shaun White since February 2020. The Fam alum launched Fresh Vine Wine, a collection of low-calorie wines, with Julianne Hough in May 2021.

Candice Accola

Accola reprised her role as Caroline Forbes — cheerleading captain turned vampire — in TVD’s spinoff, The Originals , as a recurring character in 2018. She then appeared in Splitting the Bill and After We Collided . The actress launched the “Directionally Challenged” podcast with former Vampire Diaries costar Kayla Ewell in 2018. She returned as Caroline Forbes-Salvatore in the Legacies series finale in 2022.

Accola wed The Fray’s Joe King in 2014 and they welcomed their first child in 2016. The couple’s second child arrived in December 2020. Accola filed for divorce in April 2022, citing irreconcilable differences. In December 2023, Accola soft launched her romance with Steven Krueger by posting an Instagram Reel which featured a video of them kissing.

Credit: YouTube; Shutterstock

The Switzerland-born star portrayed witch Bonnie Bennett for all eight seasons of the CW series. She then appeared in Love in the Villa, All Eyes on Me , The Holiday Calendar , Fashionably Yours and Cut Throat City . She also voiced April O’Neil on Rise of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles . Graham has released two solo albums, including 2017’s Love Music Funk Magic. She has continued to release new music, including the single “Swim” in August 2021.

Us confirmed in December 2014 that Graham split from fiancé Cottrell Guidry after a two-year engagement. She moved on with director and producer Darren Genet in 2017. Us confirmed that the couple got engaged while on a Mexican vacation in April 2022 but they ultimately called it quits one year later. Graham reportedly married Bryant Wood in October 2023.

Zach Roerig

Roerig’s Matt Donovan was one of the very few humans who lived in Mystic Falls. Matt dated Elena, Caroline and more throughout his time on the show. The Ohio native went on to appear in The Year of Spectacular Men , The Outer Wild (which he was an executive producer on) and a few episodes of The Gifted and TVD spinoffs, The Originals and Legacies . He also played Sarge Will Mosley on USA Network’s Dare Me .

Roerig made headlines in 2013, when he sought sole custody of his daughter, Fiona, who was born in 2011, against his ex Alanna Turner . He was eventually awarded custody.

Michael Trevino

Trevino’s role as werewolf hybrid Tyler Lockwood ended in 2015, but the actor later returned for a few episodes in 2016 and 2017. He followed up the mythical creature gig with roles in Out of Control , Sunset Park and The Caption . He landed the role of Kyle Valenti on The CW’s Roswell, New Mexico , which he starred on from the 2019 pilot through the 2022 series finale. In June 2021, Trevino made his directorial debut with the indie film, Two Roads .

Trevino dated Jenna Ushkowitz from 2011 to 2014. He began seeing Dutch model Bregje Heinen in January 2020. The twosome got engaged in December 2023.

Steven R. McQueen

The Los Angeles native portrayed Elena’s younger brother, Jeremy Gilbert, for six seasons. McQueen then played Jimmy Borelli on Chicago Fire — and appeared in a few episodes of Chicago P.D. — before returning to TVD for the series finale and later reprising the role on Legacies . The actor, who is the grandson of the late actor Steve McQueen, also starred in The Take Off , Home by Spring and The Warrant .

Throughout his career, the actor has taken part in charity work including volunteering with Smile Train, TECHO, Thirst Project and Echoes of Hope.

Matthew Davis

Davis’ Alaric Saltzman was a history teacher and vampire hunter who became the guardian to Elena and Jeremy after their aunt Jenna Sommers ( Sara Canning ) passed away. The Utah native then appeared on The Originals and starred on TVD spinoff Legacies for four seasons. Davis was also seen in Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses .

The Legally Blonde actor married Kiley Casciano in 2018 and in March 2020, the couple welcomed their first child, Ripley.

Joseph Morgan

The British actor joined the CW drama in season 2 as Original vampire (and Original Hybrid) Klaus Mikaelson. His character went on to lead the spinoff series The Originals for five seasons. Morgan also appeared in Gone Baby Gone and Animal Kingdom before landing the role of CJack60 on Brave New World . The actor directed a few episodes of The Originals during his time on the show and was a director, producer and writer on the short films Carousel and Revelation .

Morgan wed actress Persia White in 2014 and was previously Positive Women’s global ambassador.

Michael Malarkey

Malarkey’s Lorenzo “Enzo” St. John first appeared during season 5 of the show. He was Damon’s former cellmate in the 1950s and fellow vampire. The British-American actor went on to play Sam Foster on The Oath and Captain Michael Quinn on Project Blue Book . He has also been in A Violent Separation and Oliver’s Landing . Malarkey has released two studio albums, including 2020’s Graveracer and three EPs.

He and his wife, Nadine Lewington , tied the knot in 2009 and have since welcomed two children.

Credit: Courtesy Marguerite MacIntyre/Instagram; YouTube

Marguerite MacIntyre

MacIntyre portrayed recurring character Sheriff Liz Forbes throughout the vampire drama. She’s also appeared in April Apocalypse , Eve and an episode of Little Fires Everywhere . The Kyle XY alum has a robust resume as a producer and writer as well. She’s both written and directed episodes of Casual , The Originals and Legacies . The Michigan native has been married to cinematographer Cary Lalonde since 2007.

MacIntrye teamed up with TVD creator Julie Plec once again, this time to adapt the Vampire Academy into a TV series for Peacock. She serves as co-showrunner and executive producer alongside Plec. The new series brought author Richelle Mead ’s book universe to life.

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The Vampire Diaries

10 The Vampire Diaries Storylines Perfect for a Spinoff Series

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Damon, Elena, and Stefan's story in The Vampire Diaries became so wildly popular, that it spawned two more spinoffs. The Originals and Legacies were well-loved in their own right, but now that the dust has settled on the last TVD spinoff, fans are clamoring for more. The Vampire Diaries Universe is so vast that it has countless main, side, and negative characters with rich histories and promising futures.

While the future of this seductive vampire franchise remains uncertain (with dregs of hope from creator Julie Plec), the original show itself has immense potential for several more spinoffs. It had a sprawling plot with a large number of characters, all of whom were compelling from the start, and many of them could be the starting point for a brand new TVD show.

10 The Founding Families of Mystic Falls

10 most underrated the vampire diaries episodes, ranked.

With 171 episodes to its name, it's easy for fans to overlook some important and compelling episodes of The Vampire Diaries.

Set in Mystic Falls, TVD's fictional town had a rich history that the writers fleshed out a fair bit. The little town had always been a hotbed for magical activity, since before the 10th century when it was just called the "New World." Centuries later, the Founding Families founded the town of Mystic Falls and vowed to save it from the clutches of deadly supernatural creatures like the vampires and werewolves who wished to harm its people.

The few flashbacks about the Founders in The Vampire Diaries had audiences hooked, due to the production value and the fantastic history of the town. A spinoff about the Founding Families and their adventures (murderous Samantha Gilbert and self-righteous Giuseppe Salvatore come to mind) could take audiences hurtling into the annals of Mystic Falls and everything that happened centuries ago.

9 The Bennett Witch Trials And History

The Bennetts were an indelible part of The Vampire Diaries , and their association with Mystic Falls went way back. A matriarchal line of powerful witches , the Bennetts had very interesting roots. They originally used to live in Salem, until the witch trials drove them into hiding.

The Bennetts then arrived in Mystic Falls, where their line continued. Witches like Qetsiyah, Ayana, Emily, and Sheila Bennett changed the history of the town with their actions, and other supernatural creatures like the vampires and werewolves depended on them for their magic. Since the history of the witches was hardly touched upon in The Vampire Diaries , this spinoff would fill an important void in The Vampire Diaries Universe.

8 Katherine's Life Before And After Becoming A Vampire

Every the vampire diaries doppelgänger, explained.

In The Vampire Diaries, doppelgänger blood was full of a unique magic, which made them the key to several mystical puzzles.

Few other characters entertained viewers like Katherine Pierce, who could be ferociously villainous and unexpectedly sweet in the blink of an eye. The mercurial villain was also a Petrova doppelganger, and in just a few short flashbacks, it became clear that she had the most captivating life as a human, and after she became a vampire too.

Katherine experienced joy, tragedy, and pain in equal measure, and her trip to England to Klaus' court changed her life forever. A few short scenes cannot do justice to the vibrant and full life that Katherine led. This is why her life and times would make for the perfect prequel spinoff and tribute to the greatest TVD villain.

7 Klaus And Caroline Reuniting, For Good

After he departed from The Vampire Diaries , Klaus met Camille in The Originals, with whom he had a tragic, short-lived romance. Caroline, too, got married to Stefan but that lasted a single day as Stefan sacrificed himself to save Mystic Falls.

Niklaus Mikaelson and Caroline Forbes are widely considered the best The Vampire Diaries couple , but they did not end up together, to everyone's dismay. The show had hinted heavily that they would be endgame, as Klaus had proclaimed openly that he planned to be Caroline's last love if he could help it.

However, the development of The Originals led to a split in the cast, and Klaus moved to New Orleans, while Caroline stayed in Mystic Falls. They moved on and had their separate romances, and Klaus sacrificed himself for Hope in The Originals . Seeing how death is but a temporary inconvenience in the TVD Universe , it would not be completely unfathomable for Klaus to come back and have his love story with Caroline, once and for all.

6 A Prison World Sitcom

There were three known Prison Worlds in The Vampire Diaries .

At a time when The Vampire Diaries was running out of compelling storylines, Season 6 brought the most intriguing alternate reality plot that had never been seen before. Bonnie and Damon were stuck in a Prison World , which existed beyond the plane of existence and certainly far from Mystic Falls. The same day repeated over and over in the Prison World, which was an exact copy of the town, but empty.

While Bonnie and Damon's budding friendship and everyday life were shown in Season 6, a situational comedy that would show their day-to-day in great detail could be a fun twist on the story. Comedy, tragedy, and tender moments would be a part of this Prison World sitcom, as would smaller daily escapades between the two characters.

5 Bonnie's Travels And Her New Life

10 best bonnie scenes in the vampire diaries.

The Vampire Diaries has many amazing and powerful characters. But among them, Bonnie had some of the best scenes in the show from beginning to end.

"I'm determined to keep my promise to Enzo. I'm gonna live this life to the fullest. I wanna see the world. Enjoy my life. Do I have everything?"

- Bonnie Bennett's last line in TVD

After a heartwrenching series finale, Bonnie Bennett managed to survive Katherine's attack on Mystic Falls. While she had lost her one true love, Enzo, Bonnie had not lost hope. In the final scenes of Season 8, the Bennett witch was seen holding brochures for different countries as she got ready to backpack around the world with Enzo's spirit by her side.

A Bonnie Bennett sequel of her adventures around the world would be the perfect way to continue The Vampire Diaries story. She was so often sidelined in her plots in the show, that it would be more than fair to have her become the protagonist of her own spinoff. Bonnie was a magnet for power, and she would probably become the strongest witch in the universe during her adventures.

4 Silas, Amara, and Qetsiyah's Love Triangle

The second love triangle that changed the course of history in The Vampire Diaries was the ill-fated story between Silas, Qetsiyah, and Amara. Silas and Qetsiyah were the strongest witches of their time and in love, and Qetsiyah made the immortality elixir for them to take and live together forever. Sadly, Silas was having an affair with her handmaiden, Amara, and he sneaked the potion to her instead.

Qetsiyah's wrath was unparalleled when she found out. In her fury, she created the Other Side and made Amara the Anchor to it. To torture Silas, she told him that Amara had died, and then turned him to stone. This story of infidelity lost love, anger, and vengeance was one of the best TVD retcons ever, and fans would love to see it in long form on screen.

3 Damon And Elena's Married Life

"That is the promise of peace. That one day, after a long life, we find each other again."

Elena's last line in TVD

Damon and Elena's reunion in the series finale of The Vampire Diaries was highly anticipated, but it left something to be desired. The couple supposedly lived a happy life as humans, had children, and died and found peace with their families, but all of this was expository in the show. Showing their happy lives would have worked better.

In Legacies , fans learned that Elena rebuilt the childhood home that she had burned down in Season 4. She also became a successful doctor and had a daughter with Damon called Stefanie. Fans are curious to know how they would have adjusted to their new, human lives after the Cure, and what their marriage was like.

2 The Stefan And Lexi Chronicles

How the vampire diaries failed this character with a shocking death.

The Vampire Diaries is a series that is no stranger to death. But one unexpected end ultimately failed an unlikely character.

The character of Lexi Branson was inspired by Taylor Swift.

The Vampire Diaries shocked viewers with Lexi's untimely death, but one way to make up for it would be to bring Stefan and Lexi back together for a prequel. The two best friends spent decades together when Stefan used to be a Ripper, and Lexi helped him become his true self again. From Bon Jovi concerts to heart-to-heart conversations, they shared the best moments.

Viewers only got a short glimpse of Lexi and Stefan's relationship, but it became clear how close they were when Lexi was the first person Stefan met in the afterlife once he died. Even their adventures in the afterlife could be great source material for a spinoff.

1 Nadia Petrova's Adventures Before Finding Her Mother

Nadia Petrova was a vampire, but she was also a part of the Travelers, who were a subsection of banished witches who could not gather as a group.

In an offshoot of Katerina Petrova's plotline, Nadia Petrova would be the perfect subject for a spinoff. Katherine had given birth to a baby girl out of wedlock when she was a human in Bulgaria, but the infant was taken from her before she even got to hold her. For centuries, Katherine thought her child would have lived and died without her, but TVD surprised everyone by introducing her in Season 5.

Like her mother, Nadia had become a vampire and spent her entire life looking for Katherine. She only met her mother when she was nearing death, which was her tragedy. However, nothing more is known about the rest of Nadia's life, which would make for seriously engrossing television.

The Vampire Diaries

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The Vampire Diaries follows the lives, loves, dangers and disasters in the town Mystic Falls, Virginia. Creatures of unspeakable horror lurk beneath this town as a teenage girl is suddenly torn between two vampire brothers.

Vampire Diaries
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Nur für echte Fans: Wie gut kennst du dich mit „Vampire Diaries“ aus? Teste dein Wissen!

„The Vampire Diaries“ erfreut sich auf der ganzen Welt großer Beliebtheit, sodass sogar eine Spin-Off-Serie entstanden ist. Die Welt der Vampire hat eine treue Fangemeinde. Aber zählt ihr auch dazu? Wie gut kennt ihr das Vampir-Universum? Testet euer Wissen in unserem Quiz!

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Paul Wesley
Paul Thomas Wasilewski ( Polish: ['pavɛw vaɕi'lɛfskʲi]; born July 23, 1982), [ 1] known professionally as Paul Wesley, is an American actor, director and producer. [ 2] He is known for starring as Stefan Salvatore in The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017) and James T. Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022-present). [ 3]
Paul Wesley
Paul Wesley. Actor: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Paul was raised in the Marlboro, New Jersey. His parents immigrated from Poland, where he spent a large portion of his childhood. Many of his relatives still reside there. During his high school years, Paul was actively involved in theater studies, primarily in New York City. He attended Christian Brothers Academy, Marlboro High School, and ...
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March 15, 2022 3:00pm. There is a new James T. Kirk. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has cast actor Paul Wesley in the iconic sci-fi role. The Vampire Diaries actor will join the upcoming Paramount+ ...
Vampire Diaries star Paul Wesley to play Captain Kirk on Star Trek
The former Vampire Diaries star will play James T. Kirk on the second season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, the newest addition to the Trek TV universe.The news comes ahead of the series ...
Star Trek Casts Vampire Diaries Star as Its New Captain Kirk
Published Mar 15, 2022. Paul Wesley has been added to the cast of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 on Paramount+. Known for his leading role on the popular CW series, The Vampire Diaries, Wesley will join the Season 2 cast of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds as Captain James T. Kirk, a role first portrayed in Star Trek: The Original Series ...
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Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has officially found its James T. Kirk. On Tuesday, Paramount+ announced that The Vampire Diaries and Tell Me a Story star Paul Wesley will be joining the cast of the ...
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Paul Wesley of "The Vampire Diaries" is taking on the iconic role of James T. Kirk in Season 2 of "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds," Paramount+ announced Tuesday.
'Vampire Diaries' Paul Wesley Cast As James T. Kirk in 'Star Trek
The former Vampire Diairies star is joining Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 in the iconic role of James T. Kirk. "Paul is an accomplished actor, an astonishing presence and a welcome key ...
Star Trek's Paul Wesley Strongly Clarifies Recent Vampire Diaries
Star Trek is timeless. Vampire Diaries is not timeless. It existed in that time, and I think it was an amazing series, and I think it should stay in that [time]. ... We had 22 episodes a year for ...
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The Vampire Diaries star Paul Wesley breaks down his surprise cameo in the season one finale of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. It was confirmed earlier this year that Wesley would join the cast as ...
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Vampire Diaries star Paul Wesley has been pictured on the set of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds in a new season 2 set photo as an iconic character. Strange New Worlds, which is a spin-off from Star ...
'Vampire Diaries' Star Cast as Captain Kirk in 'Star Trek' Spin-Off
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Star Trek: Vampire Diaries Fans Can't Wait for Paul Wesley's Captain Kirk. By Spencer Perry - March 15, 2022 10:49 pm EDT. Earlier today came official confirmation from Paramount+ that Star Trek ...
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Vampire Diaries' Paul Wesley joins Star Trek actor in new TV show
By Amy West Published: 18 August 2021. The Vampire Diaries star Paul Wesley has signed on for prequel miniseries Flowers in the Attic: The Origin. The actor, who is best known for playing ...
Star Trek secured Paul Wesley's career after Vampire Diaries concerns
Star Trek's Paul Wesley became one of the biggest names on TV thanks to his leading role in the hit teen drama series The Vampire Diaries.Like his co-stars Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder (who is also one of his best friends and business partner, thanks to their Brother's Bond Bourbon brand) he now commands legions of fans, who adore his character Stefan Salvatore for balancing out his ...
Paul Wesley explains the differences between Star Trek & Vampire Diaries
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds's Paul Wesley explains why he'd do Star Trek over Vampire Diaries. Paul Wesley rose to fame in the late 2000s thanks to his turn on the acclaimed CW show, The Vampire Diaries. In it, he played Stefan Salvatore, one of the most popular characters the show has ever seen. And it's a role that helped him break ...
'Vampire Diaries' star Paul Wesley cast as James T. Kirk in 'Star Trek
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has cast Vampire Diaries alum Paul Wesley in the iconic role of James T. Kirk for the Paramount Plus show's second season.. Strange New Worlds is due to premiere on Paramount Plus on May 5. The Star Trek series was renewed for a second season back in January, with that season already in production.. The show follows the adventures of Captain Christopher Pike ...
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Wesley joined Star Trek: Strange Worlds as Captain Kirk in 2022. Wesley and actress Torrey DeVitto split after two years of marriage in 2013. The actor got remarried in 2019 to Ines de Ramon. Us ...
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Damon, Elena, and Stefan's story in The Vampire Diaries became so wildly popular, that it spawned two more spinoffs.The Originals and Legacies were well-loved in their own right, but now that the dust has settled on the last TVD spinoff, fans are clamoring for more.The Vampire Diaries Universe is so vast that it has countless main, side, and negative characters with rich histories and ...
„Vampire Diaries": Echte Fans schaffen dieses Serien-Quiz
Lieber „Star Trek" als Stefan Salvatore: „Vampire Diaries"-Star Paul Wesley hat genug von Vampiren Celina Capell 25.07.2023 "Vampire Diaries" wird für Fans immer unsterblich sein.

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In this article

The Vampire Diaries

10 The Vampire Diaries Storylines Perfect for a Spinoff Series

10 The Founding Families of Mystic Falls

9 The Bennett Witch Trials And History

8 Katherine's Life Before And After Becoming A Vampire