Sebastian Stan revealed on the October 5 episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast that he turned down the role of Stefan Salvatore on The Vampire Diaries before the part went to Paul Wesley . The CW series ultimately ran for eight seasons, from 2009 through 2017, making Stan's near casting a serious piece of vampire television history. Sebastian Stan said he was coming off the short lived series Kings and felt burned out after that experience failed to continue. After appearing in the 2006 supernatural film The Covenant, Sebastian Stan also did not want to commit to another project centered on the supernatural, especially one he feared might not make it past a second season. Was Sebastian Stan Almost Damon Too? According to casting director Lesli Gelles Raymond, Sebastian Stan was also considered for Damon Salvatore, the role eventually played by Ian Somerhalder . In a 2025 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Gelles Raymond said the early dream pairing was Steven Strait as Stefan and Sebastian Stan as Damon, but Stan's Kings schedule made that plan impossible. Sebastian Stan now views the decision without regret, saying he was not emotionally or mentally prepared for the level of fame The Vampire Diaries brought its stars. Paul Wesley eventually won over creators Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson, who later admitted they underestimated his leading man appeal, while casting director Lesli Gelles Raymond pushed the team to give Paul Wesley another audition.