“It allows me to be something other than Stefan”: The Star Trek Role Paul Wesley Accepted to Escape The Vampire Diaries’ Shadow

SUMMARY

• Paul Wesley became a household name as Stefan Salvatore in The Vampire Diaries but was eager to break free from the role.
• Wesley disliked certain aspects of filming TVD, especially the dance scenes, and vowed never to play a vampire again.
• His casting as Captain Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds allowed him to embrace a new, iconic role and showcase a different side of his acting talent.

Paul Wesley spent nearly a decade portraying Stefan Salvatore, the brooding, conflicted vampire on The Vampire Diaries (TVD). For eight seasons, Wesley’s Stefan had audiences wrapped around his finger, earning him recognition as a central figure in one of the most iconic supernatural TV shows of the early 2000s.

Paul Wesley on The Vampire Dairies | The CW

Yet, despite the show’s success, Wesley was eager to step out of the shadow cast by TVD and Stefan. While The Vampire Diaries offered career-defining moments, it also placed Wesley in a specific box, one that he was determined to break free from. And he found his escape in a role that allowed him to shed the Stefan persona and embrace a new challenge, i.e., Captain Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. 

Paul Wesley’s Thoughts on His Time as Stefan in The Vampire Diaries

Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley in The Vampire Diaries | The CW

Few people knew who Paul Wesley was before The Vampire Diaries, but by the time the show wrapped after 171 episodes, Wesley had become a household name. Stefan Salvatore, a good-guy-turned-bad-turned-good-again vampire, was the role that solidified Wesley’s status in Hollywood.

 While the series provided stability and fame, it also brought its share of frustrations, and one particular grievance Wesley had about filming TVD was the dance scenes. “You know what sucks about dancing? I’m gonna tell you what sucks about dancing on a TV series is that you have to do dialogue, right, so you can’t actually have the music,” Wesley shared in an interview with The Things, much to the amusement of his co-stars. 

He expressed a desire to move beyond the vampire trope that had defined him for so long. “I’ll never play a vampire again,” the actor stated, highlighting the exhaustion that came with being in a role for eight years. His co-star Nina Dobrev left the series before it ended, pursuing other projects, and one can’t help but wonder if Wesley wished he had followed suit earlier.

Paul Wesley’s New Journey as Captain Kirk in  Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Paul Wesley in Star Trek: Strange New World | Paramount Pictures

After bidding farewell to The Vampire Diaries, Wesley sought a role that would showcase his range as an actor, and Captain Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds was the perfect fit. The opportunity to play one of sci-fi’s most iconic characters was not only a dream come true but also a strategic move for Wesley to step out of Stefan’s shadow.

“I jumped at this role because it allows me to be something other than Stefan in a big way,” he remarked about his casting as Kirk. The role was a departure from the emotional, morally conflicted vampire and allowed Wesley to explore a different side of his craft.

As Captain Kirk, the actor could embody a figure who was bold, adventurous, and cerebral, attributes that were a stark contrast to the romantic turmoil of Stefan Salvatore.

With his departure from the vampire realm and into the stars, Wesley proves that the next frontier is filled with endless possibilities. And just like Captain Kirk, he’s ready to boldly go where no man has gone before.

You can watch The Vampire Diaries on Hulu, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Paramount+

Written by Sonika Kamble

Articles Published: 171

Sonika thrives on her passion for cinema, artistic expression, and philosophical exploration. Every medium of storytelling intrigues her, and she can’t help but dissect the layers to unravel the deeper meaning behind an arc or a scene. She finds contentment in playing chess, vibing to background scores, and penning the next chapter of her book. Sonika is driven by the idea of being a dutiful and responsible human who dedicates herself to a task, regardless of the outcome—a principle she’s committed to upholding at FandomWire.