Why Danielle Rose Russell Calls Legacies A Goofy Show
When creators Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson first started developing "The Vampire Diaries," they could not have known how lucrative it would be. After all, in the late 2000s, the vampire craze seemed to be dying down, which was a part of the reason that Williamson revealed to Entertainment Weekly that he told his agents at the time that he wouldn't tackle the horror-romance project without the help of Plec. Of course, the show proved to be a massive success and even spawned two spin-offs, "The Originals" and "Legacies."
After debuting on "The Originals" as Klaus Mikaelson's (Joseph Morgan) tribrid daughter, Hope (Danielle Rose Russell) continues her journey in "Legacies." At the Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted, Hope hones her witch, werewolf, and vampire gifts while enduring the trials of being a teenager. If that weren't hard enough, she and her classmates also face off with all-new, never seen before monsters. This expansion of "The Vampire Diaries" universe is ambitious but notably different from how the setting is portrayed in "The Originals." When asked about both series in an interview with Glitter, Russell had one specific descriptor for "Legacies" — goofy.
Legacies is Degrassi with black magic
Typically, when a series takes place at a supernatural boarding school, seriousness goes out the window. This is the case for "Legacies," which depicts classrooms full of students learning magic and engaging in an altered game of Quidditch called Wickery in the first episode. Danielle Rose Russell observed that while she loved doing the series, it was a far cry from the darker tone of the previous series.
"Filming 'The Originals' felt a bit more sophisticated. The cast was older, the material was different," Russell told Glitter. "'Legacies' is a fun, goofy show that has a totally different vibe." The vibe in question differs even from "The Vampire Diaries," which was also quite high school oriented. However, in the original series, for every love triangle or romantic proclamation, there was also real horror. Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev) is constantly hunted for her doppelgänger blood and is seconds away from death at any given moment. Additionally, secrecy is paramount in Mystic Falls, as the town is largely in the dark about vampires and other supernatural forces.
"Legacies" has the luxury of not being beholden to those restrictions. In the safety of the Salvatore School, teenagers are free to be kids and regularly flaunt their abilities. The concept of the series leans into teen shenanigans, despite its roots in gothic lore.
Gone too soon
Unfortunately for fans everywhere, vampire supremacy ended on The CW in May 2022 when the network decided upon a mass cancellation of many of their shows. "Legacies" was among the casualties, alongside other series such as "Charmed" and "4400" (via Deadline). However, the unique tone of "Legacies" isn't solely to blame. The CW had clearly developed plans for the network that did not involve its current flagship supernatural shows.
Showrunner Julie Plec took to Twitter in response to the news. "It's the Red Wedding at WBTV/CW today. Much more to say, but not today," Plec posted. "Loads of gratitude coming for fans and cast and crew in future tweets. But today, we mourn." For the first time since 2009, The CW said goodbye to the extended universe of "The Vampire Diaries."
However, for those who love the world of supernatural high schools, there is hope for the future as Plec has a new series coming down the line, which she previewed for Entertainment Weekly. The new series, an adaptation of the popular book series "Vampire Academy," will follow a group of vampires and Dhampirs as they fight the evil entities known as Strigoi. Currently in production, the series may be just the antidote nostalgic fans need when it premieres on Peacock.