Vampire Diaries star Ian Somerhalder may have said goodbye to Mystic Falls last year, but that doesn't mean he's gone off starring in vampire shows.

In fact, the opposite is true! Netflix has just signed up the Damon Salvatore actor to lead its own vampire-themed drama series V-Wars (via The Hollywood Reporter).

V-Wars is an adaptation of best-selling author Jonathan Maberry's novel series about a world where a vampire virus sweeps through half of the population.

Ian Somerhalder Comic conpinterest
Albert L. Ortega//Getty Images

The major difference between the 10-episode V-Wars and The Vampire Diaries for Ian Somerhalder is that he won't be playing one of the undead this time.

He'll be playing Dr. Luther Swann, who looks on in horror as his best friend Michael Fayne is transformed into a blood-sucking fiend. As Fayne rises through the ranks of the growing vampire army, Dr. Luther struggles to bring peace to both sides.

An IDW spokesperson said on Monday (April 16): "We could not have dreamed of a better choice than Ian Somerhalder to bring his keen understanding of this genre from his years of starring in The Vampire Diaries to lead the cast of V-Wars as Dr. Luther Swann and to be a creative force on this series, as well as to serve as a director this season.

"We are thrilled to partner with Netflix to bring the multifaceted world that Jonathan Maberry created to audiences worldwide."

ian somerhalder as damon and paul wesley as stefan in the vampire diariespinterest
The CW

This role in V-Wars comes just one year after Somerhalder and his co-stars walked away from The Vampire Diaries after eight seasons on The CW in the US.


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