When Paul Wesley sat down at our table to do an interview for season five of The CW’s The Vampire Diaries, he was munching on a granola bar and just “enjoying the whirlwind of insanity” that is the San Diego Comic-Con. Wesley, along with his The Vampire Diaries co-stars Ian Somerhalder, Nina Dobrev, Kat Graham, and Candice Accola, once again made the trek to San Diego to promote the series which this season finds Wesley playing Silas playing Stefan. Confused? Don’t be, just read the interview.
So now that you’re playing Silas, how is that going this season?
Paul Wesley: “I love it. I love the challenge and I love that Stefan is in the bottom of a lake. [Laughing] I love him, but at the same time I feel like I needed a little space from Stefan right now.”
What is Stefan thinking about down there in that water?
Paul Wesley: “He’s actually having hallucinations. I’m not kidding.”
Really?
Paul Wesley: “No. You’ll see.”
Are we going to visit Stefan in the box?
Paul Wesley: “Maybe, with a really small camera.”
You’ve played Stefan as Ripper, which allowed you to go darker with the character and now with Silas, will that also allow you to get evil and maybe a little crazy?
Paul Wesley: “I hope so. I think it’s different. I don’t think he shows his colors as much. I think he has a lot more fun. I’m going to approach him in a very light way. I’m going to have a lot of fun with Silas.”
Has Nina Dobrev been giving you any tips?
Paul Wesley: “Everyone’s been asking me that, but I haven’t done it yet. But when I do do it, I’ll ask her.”
Are you looking forward to that moment?
Paul Wesley: “I’m not looking forward to the extra hours and coming to work all day, but, yeah, I am. It’s certainly a challenge. I’ve never done anything like it before.”
What do you think Stefan will do when he gets out?
Paul Wesley: [Laughing] Get a beer. Smoke a cigarette…not that I endorse any of that. I don’t know. I am curious as to how they’re going to write that. What sort of place he will be in psychologically. It’s going to be pretty [interesting]. What if he just gets out and he’s like, ‘Hey. Hey, guys. What’s going on? No, it’s all good. Yeah, I’ve been dying for a year, over and over.'”
It’ll be interesting to see the relationship between Silas/Stefan and Caroline.
Paul Wesley: “Candace [Accola] is just fantastic and we have great chemistry. I don’t know. I don’t know what’s going to happen there. I really don’t. I truly don’t know anything, but I hope Stefan gets some action. I hope Silas gets some action, actually, come to think of it. It would be great.”
No one knows Stefan is Silas now, right?
Paul Wesley: “Right now.”
So you’re going to be playing Silas as Stefan?
Paul Wesley: “Yeah, impersonating Stefan.”
Are you playing Stefan as a whole new character then or the same as before?
Paul Wesley: “I think that initially, he’s impersonating Stefan, so it’s similar. But I think, eventually, it’s going to be sort of obvious. [It’ll be] very apparent who’s who.”
But everyone will find out Stefan is Silas at some point?
Paul Wesley: “I mean, eventually. For sure. It has to.”
What are your hopes for The Vampire Diaries this season?
Paul Wesley: “I want to see Vampire Diaries reset itself and go back to its old-school roots. I want it to unwind and not be so complicated. I want the storylines to be simplified.”
What’s been a stand-out moment for Stefan thus far?
Paul Wesley: “I thought the 1920s flashback when he was so sinister and evil, and so dark was really, to me, very powerful. I felt like it was incredible that we had been following this character for three years and we loved everything he did, he’s so noble, and then we see the truth behind why he is so noble. I thought that was so powerful. It was like the roots of how dark could turn into light and reverse itself.”
We miss Lexi.
Paul Wesley: “I know. I love Lexi. She brings out the lighter side in Stefan. Yeah. I miss her, too. I know. Maybe she’ll come back.”
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The Vampire Diaries returns for season five on October 10, 2013.
