While it has not been officially confirmed, it looks like the eighth season of the CW's hit show "The Vampire Diaries" may be its last, according to longtime star Ian Somerhalder.
The actor revealed the sad news on Saturday at the WalkerStalkerCon in Nashville, Tenn., where he told fans that the show will end after the next season.
"We have decided to do one last season to really do the story justice," Somerhalder said.
"My role is shifting in the show and we have a lot to do, basically," he added.
Somerhalder's comments came after Somerhalder's co-star star Kat Graham said that she would be leaving the show after season eight.
"Season 8 will be my last season," Graham said. "I just hope that whatever I do after, the crew can come with me. If the crew can come with me, then we'll be good. The crew is going to be the hardest thing to let go, because we are a family."
"But you know what, another season is a whole other year, and we're going to blow it out," she continued.
While both Somerhalder and Graham have spoken about the show ending after the next season, a spokesperson for the CW said that no decision has been made regarding the future of the "The Vampire Diaries." While the departure of the two actors is not a good sign for the future of the show, the series continued on after star Nina Dobrev left after season six. Dobrev's exit did not mark the end, but co-creator Julie Plec understands that the fate of the show is tied strongly around Somerhalder and his co-star, Paul Wesley.
"I finally realized that my destiny on this show, creatively, is tied in to Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley. And I mean that in a really good way," she explained. "As long as those boys who I now consider my friends want to keep telling the story, then I won't walk away from telling the story."
"When they are ready to be done telling the story, I will put my pencil down and say that I'm done too, and then we will work together to end it in the best way possible," she continued.
"The Vampire Diaries" airs on Fridays on The CW at 8 p.m. ET.
