The Vampire Diaries - Season 4 - Press Release

Based on the best-selling book series, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES is the story of two vampire brothers, obsessed with the same gorgeous girl, who are battling to control the fate of an entire town. In season one, Stefan and Damon Salvatore returned to their hometown of Mystic Falls, Virginia, for very different reasons. Stefan was determined to get to know Elena Gilbert, who bears a striking resemblance to Katherine Pierce, the beautiful but ruthless vampire the brothers knew and loved - in 1864.

Damon, on the other hand, was intent on releasing Katherine from the tomb where he believed she was trapped by a witch's spell all those years ago. In the explosive season finale, Elena's uncle set a plan in motion that saw the return of the vengeful Katherine Pierce. In season two, Katherine's appearance and her precise manipulation threw a wrench into the love triangle between Stefan, Elena and Damon. Stefan and Damon later faced their greatest challenge yet - the arrivals of Elijah and Klaus, two of the powerful "original" vampires. Season three revealed the history of Klaus and The Original Family, as well as the surprising friendship Klaus and his sister Rebekah shared with Stefan decades earlier - until Klaus compelled Stefan to forget they'd ever met. In the present day, Klaus' return led to Stefan's descent back to his violent "Ripper" ways. Elena and Damon worked together to bring Stefan back from the edge, even as they struggled with the guilt of their growing bond.

Meanwhile, Klaus found himself irresistibly drawn to Caroline Forbes, forcing Caroline's boyfriend, Tyler Lockwood, to break his sire bond to Klaus and claim Caroline as his own. Finally, the life of Alaric Saltzman, Elena and Jeremy's trusted teacher and guardian, took a terrifying turn when Klaus' mother, Esther, used witchcraft and Bonnie's unwilling help to turn Alaric into a powerful vampire who hunts down and destroys other vampires - the ultimate vampire hunter. Season Four begins with the knowledge that everything is changing. As Elena and her friends enter into the final stretch of high school before graduation sends them off on different paths, their bond to their home town of Mystic Falls takes on a deeper meaning when a new villain seems intent on destroying it.

The series stars Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert, Paul Wesley as Stefan Salvatore, Ian Somerhalder as Damon Salvatore, Steven R. McQueen as Jeremy Gilbert, Kat Graham as Bonnie Bennett, Candice Accola as Caroline Forbes, Zach Roerig as Matt Donovan, Michael Trevino as Tyler Lockwood and Joseph Morgan as Klaus.

Based on the series of books by L. J. Smith, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES is from Bonanza Productions Inc., Outerbanks Entertainment and Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios with executive producers Kevin Williamson ("Scream," "Dawson's Creek"), Julie Plec ("Kyle XY," "Wasteland"), Leslie Morgenstein ("Gossip Girl," "Private") and Bob Levy ("Gossip Girl," "Privileged").

Source: CW