Ian Somerhalder Nearly Quits The Vampire Diaries Season 3 Over Character Direction

Ian Somerhalder, known for his role as Damon Salvatore on The Vampire Diaries, revealed that he nearly quit the show during its third season due to dissatisfaction with his character's direction. He was upset that Damon was being shifted toward a romantic lead role while his brother Stefan's character was taking a darker, villainous turn. Somerhalder expressed concerns that Damon would become a "sappy character," which conflicted with his desire to portray a darker, edgier role. In a heartfelt conversation with the show's creator Julie Plec, she reassured him that the storyline would maintain balance and complexity, emphasizing that Damon would have layered story arcs across the series' 100-plus episodes. Plec also reminded him of his six-year contract and highlighted that Damon was a central part of the show's core. Ultimately, this reassurance convinced Somerhalder to stay, and he continued to portray Damon until the series concluded in 2017, later stepping away from acting to pursue other interests.