‘The Vampire Diaries’ Season 8 news, update: Is Nina Dobrev returning for the last season?

By Alisha Dale / Aug 01, 2016 07:37 AM EDT
(Photo : Instagram/ Nina Dobrev) Nina Dobrev's return to 'The Vampire Diaries' in the upcoming season is highly anticipated but not confirmed.

Ever since it was announced that "The Vampire Diaries" will be returning to the CW in October with its eighth season, fans have been wondering about the return of Nina Dobrev, a.k.a Elena Gilbert. Sadly, nothing is confirmed, and now rumor has it that she might not.

It is said that the actress is busy with other commitments and does not have time for the shooting of the supernatural show. She is currently filming the remake of "Flatliners," and just finished the shooting of "xXx: The Return of Xander Cage" and "Crash Pad," GameNGuide reported. Seeing her packed schedule, it seems difficult to hope that she will take out time to reprise her role as Elena in the upcoming "The Vampire Diaries" Season 8.

In the meantime, it has also come to light that this season of the show will be the last of the series, Mirror TV reported. Talking about the concluding season, showrunner Julie Plec said at the recently-held San Diego Comic-Con that the greatest honor one can have as a storyteller in the television business is to be able to make those decisions with one's peers. She announced that it is going to be the final season and it is bittersweet and emotional.

As for Dobrev's return, Plec did not say anything at the event, but she previously said that Dobrev had made an emotional promise to her. The showrunner had also stated in an earlier interview that she wants her to return and would do all that she can to bring her onboard.

Notably, Dobrev left the show after "The Vampire Diaries" Season 6 and the finale saw her taking a dose that made her human again and sent her off into a coma. Season 7 returned and ended without her, but now that the finale is confirmed, fans desperately want her to show up.

Well, it looks like all hope is not lost as fans may get to see Elena one last time in the upcoming season, the premiere of which is nearing.

"The Vampire Diaries" Season 8 is expected to return on the CW on Oct. 21.