‘Vampire Diaries’ Season 7 Spoilers: Nina Dobrev Is Welcome To Return, But Focus Remains On Ensemble

Some fans of “The Vampire Diaries” are waiting for Nina Dobrev to make her return already. The actress’ character Elena was written off the CW drama in May with a Sleeping Beauty curse, meaning that her friends could break the curse eventually. However, at the Television Critics Association press tour, CW President Mark Pedowitz said that he would welcome her back.

“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.”

Her awaited return might not be anytime soon, though. In the Season 6 finale, Elena was cursed to be asleep for as long as Bonnie (Kat Graham) is alive. The ending was written to allow Dobrev to return, but showrunner Julie Plec previously hinted that she wouldn’t come back until the very end. “Nina has always said that if there’s something for her to do in the series finale that she will be there to do it,” Plec told Entertainment Weekly in May. “When she left, she said, ‘I want to see this character to its end at the end of the show, so I can’t wait to come back and put her to bed again.’”

Pedowitz quickly transitioned away from the subject of Dobrev’s exit and said he loved where “The Vampire Diaries” Season 7 was going without Elena. “I have to give credit to [executive producers] Julie Plec and Caroline Dries in terms of [re-focusing the show] on Damon and Stefan … as well as having Kat Graham and Candice Accola’s characters stepping up in ways we’re very happy with,” he added.

Plec also emphasized the focus on Elena’s friends in the upcoming season. “In terms of the show focusing on a single character, we are going to shift from that,” Plec told Deadline. “We finally have an opportunity to show off the ensemble and make them feel more like the stars of their own show.”

It seems like Elena’s friends will be pretty occupied when the show returns. “TVD” Season 7 will show Damon (Ian Somerhalder) reverting back to some Season 1 habits, Stefan (Paul Wesley) trying to win over Caroline (Accola) and Bonnie getting a new love interest. Plus, they’ll have to balance their personal lives with saving Mystic Falls again. Lily’s (Annie Wersching) heretics will be wreaking havoc on the small town.

“The Vampire Diaries” Season 7 premieres Thursday, Oct. 8, at 8 p.m. EDT on the CW. Do you hope Nina Dobrev comes back to the show? Sound off in the comments section below!