Nina Dobrev Refuses To Reunite With Ian Somerhalder On ‘The Vampire Diaries,’ EP Julie Plec Still Promises A Happy Ending

Season 8 of The Vampire Diaries is less than a month away, and we still don’t know if Nina Dobrev is returning as Elena Gilbert in the show’s final run.

Many fans expect Dobrev to make one last cameo during the season finale, though producers have not announced her return. Will Dobrev make one final appearance, or is the actress refusing to reunite with Ian Somerhalder?

Celeb Dirty Laundry is reporting that Somerhalder does not want to work with his former flame on the final season, and the feeling appears to be mutual.

Dobrev and Somerhalder have a long and complicated history together. The pair dated each other while working on The Vampire Diaries, though their romance did not end happily ever after.

Dobrev left the series after their relationship turned south, and Somerhalder went on to marry Twilight alum Nikki Reed. Apparently, Reed doesn’t want to see Somerhalder working with Dobrev ever again, and that could be one reason why Dobrev refuses to return.

Whatever the reasons behind Dobrev’s hesitation, it’s clear that producers are having difficulty getting the actress on board.

In order to appease fans and offer a happy ending, Julie Plec is allegedly negotiating a contract for Twilight star Kristen Stewart as the season’s final love interest for Damon (Somerhalder) and Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley). Stewart has plenty of experience in the world of vampires, so she should fit in seamlessly to show’s universe.

Furthermore, if Nina Dobrev isn’t willing to come back, then adding a big name to the credits would certainly boost ratings for the final season.

That being said, Plec and co-creator Kevin Williamson have not tipped their hats in regards to Dobrev’s possible return. They did, however, sit down with Entertainment Weekly and discuss how The Vampire Diaries might end.

“Things are final now,” Williamson shared. “Decisions are being made. People’s lives are hanging in the balance. Relationships hang in the balance. Who’s going to end up with whom?”

Plec cautioned fans that the endings are tricky and admitted that the ending she originally had in mind might change.

“Fans are always talking about endgame as though endgame has been chosen from minute 1,” she explained. “I don’t know that you could talk to a single series creator that would say confidently ‘Where I started is where I finished and there was no way in hell I was going to stray from that path.’ Dawson’s being the perfect example.”

According to Just Jared, Williamson echoed her sentiments.

“You have to be open to change and be able to evolve and keep an open mind because the next idea may be the best one.”

Plec revealed in the past that she wanted to bring Dobrev back in order to wrap up Elena’s storyline once and for all. Based on her comments, however, it sounds like Plec has a backup plan in case Dobrev refused to return.

Stefan Worries About Damon And Elena In ‘Vampire Diaries’ Season 8 https://t.co/dKmTJUWikc

— The Vampire Diaries (@TVD_Network) October 4, 2016

While the finale is still up in the air, Plec assured fans that the emotions will run high.

“Cynicism doesn’t have its way in a series finale,” Plec stated. “My emotional desire when I watch a series come to an end is to be crying and laughing and cheering as the final credits roll, feeling like I just got delivered the happy ending, whether the plot ends happily or not.”

For now, it sounds like fans will have to wait a bit longer to find out if Dobrev will return for the Vampire Diaries finale.

Plec and Williamson will hopefully give the show an ending that it deserves, even if Dobrev sits this one out.

Season 8 of The Vampire Diaries premieres October 21 on The CW.

Tell us! Do you want to see Nina Dobrev reunite with Ian Somerhalder at some point during the final season of The Vampire Diaries? Let us know in the comments, and check out a preview below.

[Featured Image by Kevin Winter/Getty Images]