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‘Vampire Diaries’ Cast Still Connected Years After Series Finale
Even after the conclusion of the popular supernatural drama “The Vampire Diaries”, the bond between the cast members remains strong. Zach Roerig, known for his role as Matt Donovan in the series, recently revealed that he and his former co-stars still maintain close relationships.
Zach Roerig on Cast Camaraderie
Roerig, who played Matt Donovan throughout all eight seasons of “The Vampire Diaries”, shared insights into his ongoing friendships with the cast. Speaking exclusively to The Post at the premiere of his new Western film, “Day of Reckoning”, on Monday, the actor confirmed the cast’s continued connection.
“Most of them actually,” Roerig stated, highlighting the enduring friendships formed during the show. “Matt Davis is one of my dear friends. Michael Trevino, he’s ‘Uncle Michael.’ Ian [Somerhalder]. Everybody.”
No Official Group Chat, But Constant Contact
While fans might imagine lively group chats among the “Vampire Diaries” alumni, Roerig clarified that there isn’t a formal group messaging setup for the actors.
“There’s not a group chat, per se,” Roerig admitted, “but we stay in touch.” He emphasized that despite the absence of a group chat, communication among the cast remains consistent and friendly.
‘Vampire Diaries’ Spinoffs and Roerig’s Role
The successful CW series “The Vampire Diaries” also featured Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, Candice King, and Kat Graham in starring roles. Following the finale of the original series, Roerig reprised his role in three spinoff series within the same network.
The first spinoff, “The Originals”, debuted in 2013 and aired for five seasons. Subsequently, “Legacies”, the second spinoff, introduced a new generation of characters in Mystic Falls, running on The CW from 2018 to 2022.
Reflecting on Joining ‘The Vampire Diaries’
Looking back on securing the role of Matt Donovan in 2017 after the original series concluded, Roerig reminisced about the early days of “The Vampire Diaries”.
“I’d done pilots before and I was still a pretty young actor — I was 24 when we shot the pilot,” he recounted in an earlier interview. He remembered his initial interactions with Ian Somerhalder, stating, “I tested with Ian and I just thought he was Captain Cool. I’d seen him do a play in New York and I was just enamored by the guy.”
Roerig described Somerhalder’s welcoming attitude, “In the hair and makeup trailer, Ian’s like, ‘Hey, kid, get ready for the ride of your life.’ I locked it in because I felt the wheels spinning. I was like, ‘I think this is going to happen.’”
Transition to Westerns and ‘Day of Reckoning’
After his time in the world of vampires, Roerig is now venturing into the Western genre. He stars in the new Shaun Silva-directed film “Day of Reckoning” alongside Billy Zane and Cara Jade Myers.
“I have always been drawn to the genre,” Roerig revealed at the premiere. “I grew up watching Westerns with my father. The script overall was just exciting — the depth, the layer of the characters. It was a lot of fun.”
In this action-filled movie, Roerig noted, “yes, most of us were doing our own stunts,” adding, “That was very exciting. Rehearsal, precaution, safety. It was great.”
Future Projects: Superhero Aspirations
Regarding future roles, the veteran actor expressed interest in returning to the supernatural realm, this time potentially as a superhero.
“I’d love to be a superhero, probably Marvel,” he confessed. “Well, you know, Matt was a human, he wasn’t a vampire. So like a superhero that is like a vampire would be the human tick!”
‘Day of Reckoning’ Release
“Day of Reckoning” is scheduled to be released in theaters on March 28.