Vampire Diaries fans have been lobbying for Nina Dobrev to return to the series ever since it was announced that Season 8 of the CW drama would be its last, but can fans really expect to see Elena one last time?
While fans of the long-running vampire drama have been expecting to hear news of Dobrev’s return for months, producers have so far stayed tight-lipped on whether or not fans will see Elena back with Ian Somerhalder’s Damon one last time, although it turns out those behind the scenes are working hard to get Nina back.
Showrunner Julie Plec recently spoke out about the chances of Nina returning for the Season 8 series finale in a new interview with Digital Spy , where she confirmed that the cast and crew are doing all they can to have Dobrev return before the show goes off the air in January of 2017.
“She’s said she would [come back] and I want her to,” Julie said of Dobrev heading back to The Vampire Diaries to resurrect Elena, although Nina has still yet to confirm if her return is a done deal.
“It becomes a matter of logistics,” the showrunner continued, “and if we become victim to logistics, then that would be devastating. I’m hoping that’s not even going to be an issue.”
But while it sounds like those behind the scenes at The Vampire Diaries are still yet to officially confirm that Nina would be back, Julie did tell fans of the drama that she’s hopeful the series won’t have to end without Elena after Dobrev left the show last year.
“[It would be] really emotionally disappointing to have to bring the series to a close without seeing her again,” Plec then continued, before admitting that, despite her optimism, she has written an ending that does not include Dobrev’s character.
“I do have an ending without Elena,” the Vampire Diaries showrunner said, “but I hope I don’t have to use it.”
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Plec previously confirmed that Nina Dobrev had promised to head back to The Vampire Diaries before the show goes off the air after waving goodbye to the series in 2015.
Speaking to BuddyTV at the San Diego Comic-Con earlier this year, Julie admitted that it would be “a tragedy” if Nina didn’t return for an appearance in Season 8 of The Vampire Diaries after the actress previously promised to bring back Elena one final time.
“Nina made me a promise when she left that she would come back and be part of the goodbye, and I intend on holding her to that,” the Vampire Diaries executive producer said.
“I’m sure she intends on living up to it as well. We just have to figure it out,” Plec continued at the time, just months before she hinted that Dobrev’s Season 8 appearance still hasn’t been nailed down.
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Julie’s confession comes after months of pleas from The Vampire Diaries to see Elena return before Season 8 wraps in 2017, with many voicing their hopes on social media for Elena to reunite with Damon one last time before The Vampire Diaries ends its eight-season run on January 14.
“All I want is Nina back in [ The Vampire Diaries ] and Delena to rise,” The Vampire Diaries fan @bocasaints recently tweeted out, while a number of fans tweeted using the hashtag “Welcome back to TV Nina” on the social media site last month in an attempt to get Dobrev back.
“WELCOME BACK TO TVD NINA PLS COME BACK TVD NEEDS YOU WE NEED YOU DAMON NEEDS YOU,” @selenophilekay wrote in the hopes of seeing the star back on The Vampire Diaries , and @alyssamdlc tweeted out, “Elena I Need You is trending. Huhu pleaseeee!!! One last time Nina pleaseeee!!! TVD isn’t the same without you.”
The Vampire Diaries Season 8 airs on Friday nights on The CW.
Would you like to see Nina Dobrev bring back Elena for one final time as The Vampire Diaries comes to an end?
[Featured Image by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images]