Even more than eight years after its conclusion, The Vampire Diaries continues to thrill fans around the world. They proved it once again on October 11 and 12 at the Forever Mystic Falls Fan Meet 6 event in Paris, which was attended by several of the show’s actors, including Paul Wesley, who played the unforgettable Stefan Salvatore.
When asked about the series’ enduring success, Paul Wesley expressed both gratitude and surprise: “It’s strange. It’s amazing and it’s also very weird because we shot the show the first time 16 years ago and very few shows are popular for such a long time.”
He believes this longevity is partly due to the power of streaming platforms such as Netflix. Above all, however, Paul Wesley believes that vampire stories transcend generations. “I also think vampires are a very universal kind of story. It’s a theme that has existed for many, many years and people love movies like Interview with the Vampire and Twilight […] This subject matter is timeless.”
The actor who played Stefan Salvatore praised the on-screen chemistry he had with Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev: “We got very lucky with the casting. Me, Ian, and Nina, […] are so different and it just worked together nicely.”
Today, the actor has moved on from Mystic Falls to take on another iconic role: Captain Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. He acknowledges, however, that fans still primarily associate him with his vampire role: “It’s a very weird thing. But I’m grateful for the success. I really am. It’s very rare,” he concluded, addressing an enthralled audience.
![[Video] The Vampire Diaries: Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley reflect on their friendship](https://www.rostercon.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ian-somerhalder-paul-wesley-amitie-vampire-diaries-690x300.jpg "[Video] The Vampire Diaries: Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley reflect on their friendship")
