Vampire Diaries Stars Arielle Kebbel & Zach Roerig Are Now Dating!

by

You’ll want to sink your teeth into this news.

Eight years since “The Vampire Diaries” ended its run, former co-stars Arielle Kebbel (Lexi Branson) and Zach Roerig (Matt Donovan) have confirmed they’ve transitioned their bond into a romantic one, as they are now in a relationship.

At an April 6 fan gathering (videoed and posted on social media), Zach unexpectedly presented a startled Arielle with a bouquet of flowers during a meet-and-greet prior to their heartwarming kiss. This delightful moment brought immense happiness to the spectators, who applauded and cheered in response to the romantic gesture.

Arielle and Zach, who were rumored to have a romantic connection during their time on the show with Candice King (Caroline Forbes), haven’t explicitly stated how long they’ve been dating. However, they previously starred together in Hallmark’s “Love in the Great Smoky Mountains: A National Park Romance.” In their upcoming 2023 movie, they portray former lovers who meet again at an archaeological dig, where they unexpectedly find themselves competing for the same research grant.

Although Zach and Arielle’s relationship developed off-screen, many years after they briefly appeared together on The Vampire Diaries (with Arielle’s character Lexi being killed off in season one), it’s not unique. Love connections have been formed between cast members of the vampire series and its spinoffs as well.

As a lifestyle expert, I find it fascinating to delve into the real-life romances that mirrored the complex relationships on our favorite shows. Just like Elena Gilbert and Damon Salvatore, Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder dated off-screen, but did you know that Paul Wesley, who portrayed Stefan Salvatore, followed a similar pattern? Before moving on to Phoebe Tonkin, who played Hayley Marshall in the series spinoff “The Originals,” he first married costar Torrey Devitto. This intriguing love story adds an extra layer of depth to the captivating world of these supernatural characters.

Similarly, in 2023 TVD’s Candice confirmed her romance with The Originals actor Steven Krueger.

Since then, their relationship has kept flourishing, as evidenced by Candice’s recent celebratory post coinciding with the start of the third season of Yellowjackets, where Steven portrays the character Ben Scott.

Candice labeled their February 14th post as ‘Happy Valentine’s Day, Steven Krueger!’ She expressed that she couldn’t think of a more wonderful Valentine’s Day present. The evening out with him in formal attire and, at last, the Season 3 premiere of @yellowjackets were her highlights for the day.

She went on saying, “I’m deeply fond of you and extremely pleased with all the effort you put in during this season (though I still believe Ben might have played a significant role in it).

For a look back at The Vampire Diaries and some of its behind-the-scenes secrets, keep reading.

It’s surprising to know that The CW initially intended “The Vampire Diaries” as a showcase for Jessica Simpson’s younger sister, Ashlee Simpson. However, after discovering Nina Dobrev, the network eventually offered Ashlee a role in their reboot of “Melrose Place.

Rumor has it that, fresh from her stint on High School Musical, none other than Ashley Tisdale was given the chance to play Elena – an offer she declined in favor of starring in Hellcats, a short-lived series on The CW. I can’t help but marvel at the choices she made!

Reflecting on the rigorous audition process, I shared with TopMob News that an impressive half of Hollywood seemed to be vying for the roles we ultimately landed in. Somehow, I must have done something correctly, as here I stand. Our journey was one of discovery and exploration, where each episode brought fresh insights and shaped our characters more intricately. Gradually, we sculpted and refined these remarkable, awe-inspiring personas.

Although it seemed impossible to envision anyone other than Nina taking on the complex role that Elena eventually played (she had previously portrayed Katherine Pierce, Amalia Giroux and Tatia Petrova over the course of six seasons), surprisingly, the actress didn’t make a strong impression during her initial audition. However, she was well-known for her role on Degrassi at the time.

In simpler terms, Julie Plec shared with Entertainment Weekly that the most amusing anecdote about Nina’s initial impression was that she failed to leave a mark. Strangely enough, nobody could recall her first appearance. Later, Nina, through her agents and casting directors, expressed her strong desire for the role by saying she wasn’t at her best during the audition due to illness. She then submitted a tape of her performance which was so enchanting and fitting that she essentially secured the part from that moment onwards.

Following the announcement that Nina would portray Elena on the show, fans of the initial book series expressed their anger because she did not possess Elena’s iconic blond hair and blue eyes as described in the books.

One alteration made during the transition from book to screen was introducing Elena’s troubled teen brother Jeremy, played by Steven R. McQueen, instead of her 4-year-old sister Margaret. Additionally, the character’s aunt’s name was changed from Judith to Jenna, Matt’s last name was altered from Honeycutt to Donovan (he is not related to Vicki, who is his sister in the series), and Caroline shifted from being Elena’s enemy to a close friend.

Following the selection of their main female character, TVD had a challenging job filling the crucial roles of the two male components in the central love triangle.

Julie clarified that they extensively searched for the right fit to cast both Stefan and Damon. She highlighted how Nina had numerous chemistry tests with various actors.

Among the actors who auditioned for multiple roles, including some who ultimately played dual characters, were Zach Roerig, who eventually portrayed Matt Donovan; Michael Trevino, who secured the role of Tyler Lockwood; Nathaniel Buzolic, who was later chosen as Kol; and David Gallagher, a well-known actor from 7th Heaven. Julie, the casting director, expressed her initial impression of Gallagher, saying, “He left us truly impressed…but I sometimes wonder if he’ll ever be able to move past his 7th Heaven image.” Eventually, she cast him as a werewolf after seeing Super 8.

And then, finally, they found their guys: Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder.

Julie mentioned that Paul and Ian seemed to join later in the casting phase. Interestingly, Paul auditioned a total of 15 times, while Ian seemingly popped up unexpectedly. As for Nina, she remembered Paul (who initially read with Damon!) standing out among all the other males acting alongside her during chemistry tests: “The only one who wasn’t putting on an act, who didn’t attempt to engage me off-camera unless we were shooting scenes, was Paul Wesley—it’s quite amusing to realize that he played it smart,” she shared with Entertainment Weekly.

Prior to securing the part of Damon, Ian had a strong desire to be part of HBO’s “True Blood,” even going so far as to audition for the character of Jason Stackhouse.

Ian shared that he tried out for the role in True Blood, but wasn’t able to persuade Alan Ball that the part was right for him. Unfortunately, the role ended up going to Ryan Kwanten instead. He admitted that he couldn’t bring himself to watch True Blood back then because he was so disappointed about not getting the part.

Later on, Ian disclosed during his appearance on “Watch What Happens Live” that another performer tried to undermine him during the auditions.

In the final episode’s performance, a man appeared, attempting to act nonchalant and throw me off balance. However, I quickly put a stop to that, asserting, “Not a chance, dude—this is my part.” And with that, I marched in and took control of the situation.

In response to being questioned about whether the common people are acquainted with his competitor, Ian simply said, “I believe some might recognize him, but his name escapes me at the moment.

On September 10, when the series premiere was about to start, it became public knowledge that Nina and her fellow cast members Sara Canning, Candice Accola, and Kayla Ewell, as well as celebrity photographer Tyler Shields, were arrested in Georgia for disorderly conduct. They were reportedly causing a distraction to drivers during a photoshoot on the freeway, which is alleged.

Once everyone complied and settled the fine, they were freed by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department.

Much like onscreen, love was blossoming on the set throughout its eight-season run.

Paul had a long-term romance with Phoebe Tonkin, who was a main character on The Originals, following his separation from Torrey DeVitto, known for her role as Meredith Fell in season three of TVD. Candice and Zach were in a relationship for two years after she had a short fling with Steven.

Joseph Morgan and Persia White developed feelings for each other while working together on the show during its third season, eventually tying the knot in July 2014.

And then, of course, there’s the biggest IRL TVD relationship…

Fans of the series Delena were ecstatic when they discovered that their favorite co-stars were actually dating off-screen. However, their relationship ended in 2013 after three years, which coincidentally happened around the same time that Damon and Elena’s relationship was starting to blossom on the show.

However, the previous pair swiftly put an end to any speculation of strained relations as they jokingly referred to their split when they collected the 2014 People’s Choice Award for Best Chemistry, indicating there was no lingering bad blood between them.

In response to Nina discussing their breakup during their joint address, Ian stated, “However, our fictional characters continue to date on screen.” To which Nina replied, “Thankfully, it’s not uncomfortable…In fact, I’d say we still share some chemistry!

And after Ian’s April 2015 wedding to Nikki Reed, Nina had nothing but kind words to say. 

Nina replied, “I find that completely normal,” to a viewer on Watch What Happens Live who pointed out that it was unusual for her to be friends with her ex and his spouse. “It’s wonderful! Why can’t more people do the same?

During the initial season where they played a popular new TV couple, Nina and Paul reportedly had significant disagreements for the first five months of production, as Nina later disclosed.

She acknowledged on the “Directionally Challenged” podcast in 2019, “I admired Paul Wesley, but I didn’t care for him personally.” Fans often asked her after the show if she and Paul were dating because they believed their on-screen chemistry was so strong. Now, she understands that there can be a thin border between love and hate, and they disliked each other intensely enough that it seemed like they cared deeply, despite hating one another.

In due time, they managed to resolve their conflicts, with Nina revealing that Paul has since become one of her closest friends.

She mentioned that things worked out well for her, and it turned out alright. Interestingly, among everyone, she spends the most time with him nowadays. In fact, they seem to be the closest, as they frequently socialize and have grown very fond of each other. What’s amusing is how much their relationship has evolved over time.

In the first season, Kevin expressed his deep admiration for Taylor Swift, stating that he was “eager beyond belief” or “really hoping” she would perform as a vampire.

In a casual, conversational tone, as if speaking from personal experience as a lifestyle expert: “She has such an enchanting, timeless quality that reminds me of Kirsten Dunst during ‘Interview with the Vampire’. I’m absolutely smitten and going all out to secure her for our show. If given the chance, I would leap at it!

Indeed, he deliberately thought about her while developing and choosing Arielle Kebbel for the part of Stefan’s best friend Lexi – a role that later became popular among fans.

But alas, Kevin admitted she was “too big” for the show. 

Although she disapproved of the practice of stunt-casting, Julie harbored a secret wish for Joshua Jackson (better known as Pacey Witter) to be part of the show.

She mentioned that the success of our program is largely due to the fact that we don’t rely on star power to drive our casting decisions. However, if a well-known television personality becomes available who fits perfectly with our vision, then… she added humorously. What I often joke about is my ideal scenario: Joshua Jackson’s character, Pacey, from ‘Dawson’s Creek’, appearing in our series set in Mystic Falls.

As an ardent fan, I can’t help but imagine how electrifying it would have been if Joshua, rather than Joseph Morgan, had embodied the iconic role of Original vampire Klaus. This part was so pivotal that over 200 actors dared to dream they could play it. Alas, the enigmatic Joseph claimed the villainous role that ignited the phenomenal spinoff, “The Originals.”

If fate had steered Joshua towards this destiny, I believe the series would have been a one-season wonder, as initially planned before Joseph’s mesmerizing performance left the producers powerless to resist extending his character’s life.

In an unusual move that could be considered ‘stunt casting’, the creators of “The Vampire Diaries” invited Sarah Michelle Gellar, famous for her role in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, to portray Rose – a vampire who formed a bond with Damon.

In an interview with The New York Post, Kevin disclosed that at first, he and his aspirational ideas had aimed for Sarah Michelle Gellar to play Rose. However, she graciously declined our offer. She was the one exceptional instance where we would have consented to what could be considered “stunt casting.

The Walking Dead star Lauren Cohan nabbed the vampire part instead. 

Fans of “The Vampire Diaries” were accustomed to seeing cast members join and depart, due to numerous on-screen fatalities and returns. However, Nina’s declaration that she was departing the series after season six took many by surprise.

As a die-hard admirer, I’ve always harbored the dream that Elena’s tale would span across six seasons, and miraculously, it turned out to be the journey of a lifetime, as penned in a heartfelt Instagram post by the star herself.

Besides her statement, Julie added, “It’s a mix of sweetness and sadness as we bid farewell to Nina. We will surely miss her and the four hundred characters she brought to life. Yet, we eagerly embrace the madness and excitement of continuing to spin tales about our Salvatore Brothers and our talented cast.

The series went on for two more seasons without Nina, who returned for the series finale. 

In the second season, Kevin and Julie made a decision about their final outcome during a meal at a shopping mall food court, which likely would have sparked frustration among supporters of Delena and Stelaen.

In Julie’s words to EW, she shared that both brothers should meet their end for the sake of their girl, and then they would watch over her as if spirits, because we had introduced the concept of an alternate realm. This girl would go on to lead her life towards the sunset, possibly marrying Matt Donovan or becoming a doctor, but those brothers would be together, watching her live from beyond.

However, as the story progressed and the love triangle underwent a significant transformation, their final outcome became drastically different. (Apologies, Matt!)

Following Nina’s departure and Stefan’s romantic history with Caroline and later Julie and Kevin (who rejoined the team for the final episode after leaving midway through season 2), a discussion ensued between them regarding two possible conclusions for the series.

Julie clarified to EW that there were two proposals on the table: one wrapping up the season flawlessly and another ending the series. She further mentioned that discussions about eliminating Damon were as intense as those about eliminating Stefan, and for a significant period, the decision seemed to favor Damon’s survival.

In the end, Stefan made the ultimate sacrifice, allowing Damon to experience his human life with Elena. Furthermore, after making a crucial decision regarding another beloved TV love triangle (such as that on Dawson’s Creek), Kevin confessed to being conflicted over who Elena ultimately chose in the series finale.

Kevin openly confessed his preference for Stefan and Elena as an endgame couple, reminiscent of his rooting for Dawson in the Dawson-Joey-Pacey love triangle. He expressed that if given another chance, their romance would have been the conclusion; however, due to limited time in the final season and the absence of Elena, we couldn’t bring them back together as planned.

“Hello, brother.” 

In the initial script, Damon’s first line in the pilot wasn’t intended to be his final line, but surprisingly, it turned out that way as the Salvatore brothers were brought back together following Damon’s human demise in the series finale. This closing scene was a deeply meaningful and circular resolution for both the series and the dynamic between the characters.

In a conversation with Entertainment Weekly, Kevin shared an interesting observation: “Apparently, angels sport heroic hairstyles in the afterlife,” he said. “Followed by a warm embrace.

Read More

2025-04-14 20:19