A crossover between Supernatural and The Vampire Diaries could have been a dream come true for fans. Both shows aired on The CW at the same time, both revolved around paranormal beings, and both had passionate fanbases that would have loved to see the Winchester brothers cross paths with the Salvatore family.
In fact, when The Vampire Diaries was just beginning its first season and Supernatural was already on its fifth, the network floated the idea of bringing the two worlds together. But according to executive producer Julie Plec, it simply didn’t make sense at the time.
In Samantha Highfill’s book I Was Feeling Epic: An Oral History of The Vampire Diaries, Plec explained that blending the universes didn’t fit their mythology. “By the way, if that same request had come my way in Season 7, I would’ve been like, ‘F**k yeah,’” she admitted.
“Two Completely Different Universes”
Plec later elaborated on her decision during a 2018 convention, shortly after TVD ended its eight-season run. “Kevin [Williamson, coproducer] and I were like, ‘absolutely not, because we are vampires and werewolves,” she said, as reported by Screenrant. “We don’t have demons. We don’t have Hell. We don’t have the devil. We don’t have any of that stuff! It’s like two completely different supernatural universes!”
Still, the idea of a crossover never completely disappeared. Years earlier, Supernatural star Jensen Ackles teased the possibility of the Winchesters meeting the Salvatore brothers. “Maybe given the trade that the Winchester brothers are in, maybe we go pay a visit to The Vampire Diaries and just wipe them out,” he joked.
Ackles brought it up again in 2016 but admitted there were major hurdles. The shows were filmed thousands of miles apart, making a crossover nearly impossible. “I just say at the end, we’ll loan them an Impala and just have the Impala drive into town as the last thing you see,” he laughed. His co-star Misha Collins added: “And then the screen cuts to black and you just hear screams.”
Why The Originals Happened Instead
While a TVD–Supernatural crossover never materialized, Plec revealed that her focus was on expanding The Vampire Diaries universe itself. As early as Season 2, she and Williamson were exploring the idea of a spinoff involving ghosts and possessions — a premise that would have felt more in line with Supernatural.
Ultimately, though, the idea evolved into The Originals. “The Originals spinoff happened because Klaus was so good and Elijah was so good and then suddenly we introduced Rebekah as part of the story and then it was like, ‘Why are we not doing this whole family? They’re so good,’” Plec recalled.
The spinoff became a massive success in its own right, proving that TVD didn’t need a crossover with Supernatural to keep fans hooked.
Would you have liked to see the Winchesters face off against the Salvatores, or do you think keeping the two worlds separate was the right call?