‘The Vampire Diaries’ season 5 debate: How long can Elena’s adventures last?

The subject of this “Vampire Diaries” season 5 debate was facilitated in part by a reply to a fan made by executive producer Julie Plec, one in which the suggestion was made that the show could last for as long as ten seasons. Plec’s reply? She would love for the show to continue that long, with the condition being that people “keep watching.”

So could the show really last that long? We’re sure that there are some out there who would not mind seeing Ian Somerhalder on their TV screens for 10 seasons (or forever), but the reality here is that this seems to be pretty unlikely right now, especially given everything that we know already about this show and its cast.

The first thing that you have to think about here comes via contracts. When a series regular signs up for a show (at least in America), one of the typical stipulations comes in that the actors sign up for six seasons straight out of the gate. It’s a huge commitment, but one that the actors have to give in order to get themselves cast in such a coveted job. This means that unless something crazy happens, the likes of Ian Somerhalder, Nina Dobrev, and Paul Wesley are under contract until the end of 2015. Some TV contracts have options in them for a seventh season, but we’re not privy to discussions with this show.

We’ve heard suggestions from actors in the past that “The Vampire Diaries” is a story that lasts for six seasons, but we could see it lasting for seven in order for the characters to have proper closure, and for The CW to get the ratings that it so deeply desires. After that, we anticipate there being a point where some of the stars want to leave. All three of the leads mentioned previously have movie offers coming in left and right, and like with Blake Lively and “Gossip Girl,” they’re going to want to pursue them. We’re not saying that anyone wants to leave the show, but it’s understandable that after half a decade doing one thing, you’d want to do something different.

Could we be wrong, and the series lasts for much longer? Sure, but it’s going to be about how creative Plec and the producers are in creating material that the actors want to play, and if the ratings do stay at a level where the work still feels fulfilling.

How long do you think “The Vampire Diaries” could last? We want to hear your thoughts below! Also, be sure to hit up the link here if you see the latest offscreen happenings for Dobrev.

Photo: The CW