CW
Damon’s (Ian Somerhalder) infamous “Hey Brother” scene wasn’t what made the Vampire Diaries pilot popular. Series creator Kevin Williamson sat down with Entertainment Weekly for a talk about The Vampire Diaries, sharing that Elena (Nina Dobrev) and Stefan’s (Paul Wesley) meet-cute was the show’s selling point. “I love the moment when Stefan and Elena first meet and he rips a leaf out of her hair. I think they have great chemistry when she says, “We have a shared history.” I saw it on the monitor and thought, ‘If this show is going to work, it’s because they have chemistry,'” he said.
Williamson wasn’t the only one who thought Stelena’s first scene was epic. “The Vampire Diaries” showrunner Julie Plec echoed that sentiment in the same oral history: “It was instant magic. It became very clear that the right decision had been made (in choosing Paul). When he stepped into the role of Stefan, he just somehow miraculously and immediately made all of our hearts skip a beat.”
Wesley agreed that the magic begins with the first sweet meeting scene. Director Marcos Siga worked with the cinematographer on a practical effect involving a white chop board that created light under Wesley and Dobrev’s eyes. “It was very subtle, and on camera it almost gave the eerie, otherworldly feeling that something had happened, some kind of connection had taken place.” He added, “I don’t know what it was about that scene that made everyone go, ‘Oh yeah, that’s it,’ but personally, I knew that the chemistry would be there and that the show would work for some reason.”
‘The Vampire Diaries’ co-stars Nina Dobrev and Paul Wesley to reunite for Hulu series
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The role of Stefan Salvatore was incredibly difficult to get, and Paul Wesley auditioned several times before landing the role. Even Nina Dobrev (who auditioned over a dozen times) wasn’t convinced he was the right person to play Stefan after their first chemistry read. Luckily, he was chosen for the role and the chemistry between them was confirmed on screen. Dobrev and Wesley have remained close since the end of The Vampire Diaries, and recently announced that they will reunite on the upcoming Hulu drama You Deserve to Know.
Based on the bestselling novel by Aggie Bloom Thompson and adapted by Grand Hotel creator Brian Tanen, the series follows three suburban couples whose strong friendship is tested after one husband is murdered. Unlike The Vampire Diaries, Dobrev and Wesley’s characters will not be romantically involved. Instead, they will play neighbors on opposite sides of a murder investigation. In addition to starring in You Deserve to Know, the duo will also executive produce the series.