Nina Dobrev Says She Will Not Return To ‘Vampire Diaries’ Season 7, But Plans To Watch The New Episodes

It looks like Elena will be in a coma for a long time. Actress Nina Dobrev confirmed that she will not appear in “The Vampire Diaries” Season 7. When she was asked about the possibility of appearing in upcoming episodes, the 26-year-old nixed the idea.

“That chapter is closed, sadly – bittersweet,” she told Entertainment Weekly.

Dobrev was written out of “The Vampire Diaries” in the Season 6 finale. Her character Elena was cursed to stay asleep as long as her best friend Bonnie (Kat Graham) was alive. The Sleeping Beauty-like spell was specifically used to allow the actress to come back. Several cast members pointed that out while promoting the show, which may have gotten some fans’ hopes up.

“I think that’s what’s fun about this series. You never know when characters are going to leave, you never know when they’re going to come back,” Candice King teased to MTV in July. “That’s been a constant for six seasons, now. So the fact that, for such a big departure, that it is left open-ended, is really true to the show.”

CW President Mark Pedowitz said that Dobrev is welcome to come back to the show, but the focus would remain on new characters in Season 7. “We would have loved Nina to stay,” Pedowitz said, TV Line reports. “She did a great job for the six years she was on the show and she’s welcome anytime she wants to come back.”

It’s the focus on the other characters that makes Dobrev excited. The Canadian admitted that she is going to tune in when the drama returns. “I can’t wait to see what the new season will look like,” Dobrev told EW. “I’ll be watching. I’m very excited for my friends.”

When “TVD” Season 7 premieres, Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Caroline (King) will have a major romantic storyline while Bonnie (Graham) helps Damon (Ian Somerhalder) mourn the loss of Elena. Of course, they’ll have to balance their personal drama with saving the town. Lily’s (Annie Wersching) Heretics will be wreaking havoc on Mystic Falls.

“The Vampire Diaries” Season 7 premieres Oct. 8 at 8 p.m. EDT on The CW.