“Everyone knows he failed”: In another world, Ian Somerhalder would never have been Damon in “Vampire Diaries” if the showrunners had chosen this Marvel star

Imagine The Vampire Diaries without Ian Somerhalder as Damon Salvatore. There you go. Hope you didn't choke. But boy, did you almost! In a wild parallel universe, the brooding vampire could have been played by none other than a Marvel star. Yes, before Somerhalder won over fans with his smirk and dangerous charm, the showrunners had their eye on a very different actor – one who has since made waves in the world of superheroes.

Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev in Vampire Diaries | Photo credit: CW

But as fate would have it (and thank goodness it did), the other guy just wasn't right, leaving the door wide open for Somerhalder to land the role of a lifetime. It's crazy to think that one casting decision could have turned The Vampire Diaries on its head!

Ian Somerhalder almost missed out on the lead role in “Vampire Diaries” to a Marvel star…