The CW is piloting The Originals, a potential spinoff of the network’s flagship series The Vampire Diaries, in consideration for next season. The project, from Vampire Diaries co-creator/executive producer Julie Plec, will be introduced as an upcoming episode of Vampire Diaries that will air

April 25, serving as a potential backdoor pilot. It stars popular Vampire Diaries cast member Joseph Morgan 

and the series’ recent addition Phoebe Tonkin.

 

The Original scenters on the Original family of vampires, as Klaus (Morgan) returns to the supernatural melting pot that is the French Quarter of New Orleans — a town he helped build centuries ago — and is reunited with his diabolical former protégé Marcel. Tonkin also stars, reprising her Vampire Diaries character as werewolf Hayley that was introduced this past fall. Plec will write the backdoor pilot episode and executive produce Originals with Alloy Entertainment’s Leslie Morgenstein and Gina Girolamo for Alloy, Warner Bros TV and CBS TV Studios. A potential involvement of Vampire Diaries co-creator/exec producer Kevin Williamson, who is busy with his Fox drama series The Following, is unclear.