The star of The Vampire Diaries spin-off series, The Originals , took a break to chat with me at Comic-Con. Fun fact: this Original hybrid is a total geek.
Via: Erin La Rosa/Buzzfeed
Joseph Morgan's Klaus was first introduced during Season 2 of The Vampire Diaries as a brooding, explosive, English-accented, sociopath with a penchant for alienating everyone around him. He was manipulative and cunning — a character who had one objective: to get his way. But somewhere along the lines, the Original hybrid — he's part werewolf, part vampire — gained more depth. Klaus was given a compelling backstory, a family, and he even became shippable, with fans obsessing over his romantic gestures toward Caroline. (Even though she hated him, and even though he'd tried to kill most of the people she loved.)
"It's really crazy, isn't it? I should've been killed off a long time ago, I think," Morgan said, laughing. "I wanted to only do one season when I came onto Vampire Diaries, because I thought there was only so much to explore. The more I played this character, the more I got interested in it, and wanted to do more. So after Season 3, I went and saw them and said, 'Listen, I know there's a misconception I want to die, but I'd love to do another season.'"
It's a little hard to see any part of Klaus still lingering when you're sitting across from Morgan, particularly seeing how wide-eyed and giddy he gets when discussing something he's fanatical about. But when he talks about playing Klaus, he leans forward, intense. Just like his character on the show.
"I don't think I could've played this part 10 years ago, because I just didn't have enough life experience. And you have to have been through things, I think, to draw upon that kind of darkness, and the way he goes so cold, and kind of removes himself sometimes, and has all of that anger."
Then he leaned back in the chair, breaking into a smirk. "I mean, look, I'm an actor, so I'm desperate for affirmation, and so is Klaus," he laughed. "I'm really pleased to have the opportunity to do the spin-off, because I would be really sad, I think, if they killed him off at this point. I'd miss him, ya know?"
That spin-off series, The Originals, created by Julie Plec, aired as a back-door pilot to The Vampire Diaries on April 25, to not spectacular ratings. The episode delivered just 2.2 million viewers, down 10% from the previous week's episode, and down a substantial 31% from The Vampire Diaries's Season 4 average. Despite that, Klaus fans can rest easy, as the pilot was picked up to series and is set to air new episodes starting Tuesday, October 15.
Via: Handout / Getty Images
"I love New Orleans, and the idea that that's very much a part of our story," he said about The Originals. "And that it's a little more epic, you know the war between the vampires and the witches — that appeals to me. I grew up reading Lord of the Rings, and comic books, so that kind of epic quality I like."
At Comic-Con to promote his show, Morgan seemed a bit despondent when asked if he was interested in what was going on down at the convention center.
"I mean, I'm a huge graphic novel fan, but I don't think I'm going to get a chance to see anything." He looked pained as he wrung his hands. "I was hoping to get some comics. I put out a subtle tweet," he laughed excitedly. "Something to do with 'The bad thing about Comic-Con is that I never seem to get any comics.' So, I wonder if anyone will respond to that."
He was right. He likely wouldn't get a chance to see much other than his own panels. It was Friday afternoon, and he'd only been in San Diego for two hours, but The Originals actor was scheduled to appear at a TV Guide Fan Favorites panel later that day, and a panel for his Vampire Diaries spin-off series on Saturday afternoon. It wasn't an ideal situation, particularly for someone with such strong geek tendencies.
