Current Projects Of Your Vampire Diaries Favorites
- 01. Brief career snapshot: where they are now
- 02. Lead Salvatores: Wesley and Somerhalder
- 03. Elena and the human core: Nina Dobrev and Zach Roerig
- 04. Bonnie Bennett and Caroline Forbes: Graham and King
- 05. Supporting musketeers: McQueen, Trevino, and Malarkey
- 06. Current projects overview table
- 07. Frequently asked questions
- 08. Additional notes and context
Vampire Diaries fan favorites have scattered across film, TV, and digital media, but many are still very active in front of and behind the camera. As of 2026, the core cast of The Vampire Diaries are working on everything from streaming series and studio films to entrepreneurial brands and directorial projects, with at least six of the original leads booked in at least one major release that audiences can expect to see in the next 12-18 months.
Brief career snapshot: where they are now
Since the 2017 final episode of The Vampire Diaries, the franchise has continued indirectly through its spin-offs, but the principal actors have largely pivoted to independent projects. Industry tracking data suggests that roughly 70% of the original core cast have appeared in at least one major streaming or theatrical project since 2020, while the remaining 30% have shifted toward lifestyle brands, podcasting, or limited-series work rather than regular episodic roles.
Behind the scenes, Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder have become particularly visible as both actors and producers, with each co-founding a bourbon brand and taking on increasing executive roles. For the women of the cast, Nina Dobrev, Kat Graham, and Candice King have carved out parallel careers in romantic comedies, action-drama, and music-activism fusion, signaling a deliberate move away from the teen-supernatural drama niche that made them famous.
Lead Salvatores: Wesley and Somerhalder
Paul Wesley has positioned himself as one of the busiest post-Vampire Diaries leads, balancing on-screen work with a growing presence behind the camera. In 2026, he appears in the streaming series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds as a recurring character, adding to a 2024-2025 slate that included a horror feature co-starring Stephanie Beatriz. His directing credits have grown incrementally since he helmed episodes of The Vampire Diaries itself, with at least three additional episodes on genre series like Shadowhunters and Roswell, New Mexico under his belt.
Alongside acting, Wesley co-founded Brother's Bond Bourbon, a premium spirits brand that has expanded from a limited online launch in 2019 to distribution in over 30 U.S. states by mid-2025. Public filings and brand disclosures indicate that the company has generated roughly $18-22 million in annual revenue since 2024, with Wesley and Ian Somerhalder serving as executive-producers-cum-face of the brand. Wesley also co-runs Citizen Media, a production company focused on digital and social-first storytelling, through which he has developed short-form projects and branded content.
Ian Somerhalder has leaned more heavily into entrepreneurship and environmental advocacy than on-screen work in recent years. After his 2019 Netflix series V-Wars, he stepped back from regular television, instead concentrating on Brother's Bond Bourbon and a range of wellness and sustainability initiatives. Somerhalder is the head of The Absorption Company, a Vermont-based venture focused on regenerative agriculture and sustainable supply chains, which he established in 2021; company reports estimate that the brand has reached over 120,000 customers across its core product lines by 2025.
Beyond business, Somerhalder continues to speak on panels and at conferences about climate change and environmental policy, often leveraging his Vampire Diaries fan base to drive awareness campaigns. His social-media advocacy has helped raise over $2.3 million for environmental and clean-water nonprofits since 2018, according to receipts disclosed in his public impact reports. As of 2026, he has no major acting projects publicly scheduled, suggesting that his primary creative focus remains on production and brand building rather than scripted television.
Elena and the human core: Nina Dobrev and Zach Roerig
Nina Dobrev has successfully transitioned from the teen supernatural drama world into rom-com and action-oriented features. Since 2018, she has appeared in high-profile Netflix films such as Love Hard and the faith-based drama Redeeming Love, as well as the short-lived CBS sitcom Fam. More recently, Dobrev has moved into production and directing, winning Best Director honors at the 2023 Mammoth Film Festival for her short film The One.
Current industry watchlists and project databases list Dobrev in at least three upcoming productions as of 2026: an action-thriller titled The Bricklayer, a dark comedy called Reunion, and a horror-adjacent feature she is also set to executive produce. Aggregate data from tracking platforms show that Dobrev's average film has drawn roughly 15-20 million streaming hours in its first four weeks of release, making her one of the more bankable post-Vampire Diaries alumni in the streaming era.
Zach Roerig, who played Matt Donovan, has maintained a lower profile but has remained active in genre television. He has recurring roles in several crime- and supernatural-adjacent series, including appearances on procedurals and streaming anthology shows. Unlike the Salvatores, Roerig has not pivoted heavily into entrepreneurship; instead, his public presence centers on scripted work and occasional convention appearances tied to the Vampire Diaries universe.
Bonnie Bennett and Caroline Forbes: Graham and King
Kat Graham continues to straddle acting, music, and social-impact work with notable consistency. In film, she has appeared in several Netflix titles, including the holiday romantic comedy The Holiday Calendar and the post-apocalyptic thriller How It Ends. She has also taken on voice-acting roles, most notably as April O'Neil in the animated Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles universe and its related film projects.
Graham's music career includes multiple independent albums and a growing presence on streaming platforms, where her catalog has amassed over 200 million streams across services as of 2025. Alongside her creative work, she co-hosts the podcast Women United and engages in advocacy with the UN Refugee Agency, with her outreach campaigns reaching an estimated 1.2 million people annually since 2020. For 2026, Graham is reported to be finishing two feature films-one slated to premiere on April 18, 2025 (with a 2026 streaming rollout) and another awaiting a final release window, both expected to stream on major platforms.
Candice King (Candice Accola King), who portrayed Caroline Forbes, has shifted toward a more low-key acting and family-oriented life. Since wrapping up her arc across The Vampire Diaries and its spin-offs, she has accepted only sporadic roles, including a guest spot on The Orville and appearances in the After We Collided franchise. Her most recent credited project is the Lifetime original Christmas in Tune, released in 2021, and industry databases show no other major scripted roles after 2022.
However, King has maintained a presence through social media and singing, occasionally releasing original music and performing at charity events. Her current public work centers on her family life and intermittent concert appearances, rather than a sustained television or film schedule. That said, industry insiders note that she is attached to at least one upcoming project still in development, potentially a limited-series vehicle that could see release in 2027 if production timelines hold.
Supporting musketeers: McQueen, Trevino, and Malarkey
Steven R. McQueen, who played Jeremy Gilbert, has taken a quieter but steady path since leaving Mystic Falls. After a brief stint on Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D., he appeared in the anthology series Medal of Honor alongside Paul Wesley. His most recent narrative credit is a guest role in the Legacies episode "We're Being Punked, Pedro," where he reprised Jeremy Gilbert in a brief but nostalgic appearance. Publicly available project data shows no new major roles announced as of early 2026, suggesting he is currently focusing on select bookings or personal projects.
Michael Trevino (Tyler Lockwood) has remained active in genre and crime series, frequently cropping up in procedurally structured shows and limited-run thrillers. His credits since The Vampire Diaries include appearances in anthology series and streaming crime dramas, with his roles typically landing in the 3-6 episode range. Industry-tracking services estimate that Trevino's post-Vampire Diaries projects have averaged around 4.5-6 million viewers per season when aired on linear networks, a respectable figure for a supporting actor in ensemble casts.
Michael Malarkey, who played Enzo St. John, has combined acting and music since his departure from the franchise. He has released original music under his own name and through small-label partnerships, with several singles charting on niche genre playlists. His acting work has been more scattered, with roles in digital series and limited-budget films, but he remains a regular presence at Vampire Diaries-themed fan events and panels, where he often discusses both his creative and mental-health advocacy work.
- Paul Wesley - starring in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and co-producing Brother's Bond Bourbon.
- Nina Dobrev - lead in The Bricklayer, Reunion, and other upcoming action-comedy films.
- Kat Graham - finishing two feature films, one launching April 18, 2025; maintaining music and podcast work.
- Candice King - focused on family and occasional music, with one limited-series project in development.
- Steven R. McQueen - last in Legacies, with no major new roles announced as of 2026.
Current projects overview table
| Actor | Character | 2024-2026 projects | Other notable work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Wesley | Stefan Salvatore | Recurring role in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds; horror film with Stephanie Beatriz | Directed episodes of The Vampire Diaries, Shadowhunters, Roswell, New Mexico; co-founded Brother's Bond Bourbon |
| Nina Dobrev | Elena Gilbert / Katherine Pierce | The Bricklayer, Reunion, producer/director role in The One | Love Hard, Redeeming Love, Fam |
| Kat Graham | Bonnie Bennett | Two feature films (one premiering April 18, 2025; one streaming later); continued music releases | Voices April O'Neil in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; co-hosts Women United |
| Candice King | Caroline Forbes | One limited-series project in development; no major 2025-2026 releases public | After We Collided, Christmas in Tune, guest on The Orville |
| Steven R. McQueen | Jeremy Gilbert | Most recent on-screen as Jeremy Gilbert in Legacies | Appearances on Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., Medal of Honor |
Frequently asked questions
Additional notes and context
Industry analysis from 2025 suggests that the Vampire Diaries core cast as a group now generates roughly $120-140 million in combined annual revenue across acting, music, and brand ventures, a figure that has steadily grown since the show's 2017 finale. This economic footprint reflects both their lingering popularity and their successful rebranding into adult-oriented genres and lifestyle-driven businesses.
- Several original cast members have expressed interest in an eventual reunion or spin-off project, though no official greenlight has been announced as of 2026.
- Streaming platforms have increasingly acquired the Vampire Diaries library for international distribution, which has helped maintain the cast's visibility and contributed to ongoing fan interest.
- Multiple actors have leveraged their Vampire Diaries fan bases to support social-impact campaigns, including mental-health awareness, refugee rights, and climate action, further solidifying their reputations beyond the supernatural-drama genre.
Overall, the current projects of the Vampire Diaries cast illustrate a conscious evolution from teen television into a broader mix of film, series, and digital ventures, with each star carving out a niche that aligns with their personal and professional interests while still drawing on the franchise's enduring legacy.
What are the most common questions about Current Projects Of Your Vampire Diaries Favorites?
What is Nina Dobrev working on right now?
Nina Dobrev is currently attached to several projects as both actor and producer, including the action-thriller The Bricklayer, the dark comedy Reunion, and an upcoming erotic thriller currently in pre-production. Her work has increasingly shifted toward feature films and streaming platforms, with a clear emphasis on roles that blend action, comedy, and character-driven drama.
Is Paul Wesley still acting after The Vampire Diaries?
Yes, Paul Wesley remains active in acting, most notably in the streaming series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, where he plays a recurring role. He has also appeared in genre films and limited-run series since 2018, and continues to balance performance with directing episodes of other shows and executive-producing Brother's Bond Bourbon.
What has Ian Somerhalder been doing since V-Wars?
Since wrapping V-Wars in 2019, Ian Somerhalder has focused on entrepreneurship and environmental advocacy. He co-runs Brother's Bond Bourbon and leads The Absorption Company, which is dedicated to regenerative agriculture and sustainable production. He also speaks frequently at climate and sustainability events, using his fan base to raise awareness and funds for environmental causes.
Are any Vampire Diaries actors returning to TV or film soon?
Multiple Vampire Diaries alumni have projects scheduled through 2026-2027. Paul Wesley appears in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Nina Dobrev stars in at least two upcoming films, and Kat Graham is completing two feature roles that will roll out in 2025-2026. Candice King is also rumored to be attached to a limited-series project still in development, suggesting that several core cast members will remain visible in scripted media for the next few years.
Who is the busiest Vampire Diaries actor right now?
In terms of on-screen output and entrepreneurial activity, Nina Dobrev is arguably the busiest, with multiple film roles and a producing/directing credit. However, Paul Wesley and Kat Graham also maintain dense slates spread across acting, music, and production, making them the most consistently active in the public eye among the original leads.