Sebastian Stan Has Zero Regrets About Turning Down 'The Vampire Diaries'

Sebastian Stan could have been Mystic Falls' resident brooding heartthrob, but the actor is taking a victory lap over the role he chose to walk away from. Long before he became a global superstar in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the actor landed on the radar for the lead role of Stefan Salvatore in the hit CW supernatural series *The Vampire Diaries*. Ultimately, the part went to Paul Wesley, who spent eight seasons playing the tormented vampire hero alongside Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder. Looking back on the decision to pass on the project, Stan has no lingering doubts about missing out on the teen drama phenomenon.

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Reports indicate that Stan feels a sense of relief over how his career trajectory unfolded without the supernatural drama. Steering clear of the long-term commitment allowed him to pursue different creative avenues rather than staying tied to a multi-year network television contract. At the time the show was casting its pilot, Stan was already making waves on television with his recurring role as Carter Baizen on *Gossip Girl*. Stepping away from another teen-focused show freed up his schedule for major cinematic ventures that fundamentally reshaped his Hollywood standing.

BUZZBEAT

With Stan out of the running, Paul Wesley stepped into the shoes of Stefan Salvatore and created an iconic television character. Wesley anchored the franchise from its 2009 debut straight through to its emotional series finale in 2017, earning a massive fanbase in the process. For Stan, missing out on Mystic Falls paved the way for a massive leap into blockbuster filmmaking. Just a couple of years after the vampire show launched, he secured his breakout role as Bucky Barnes in 2011's *Captain America: The First Avenger*, a character he would evolve into the Winter Soldier across numerous blockbuster movies and television series. Both actors ended up exactly where they belonged. While Wesley built a lasting television legacy on The CW, Stan transformed into an A-list movie star and critically acclaimed lead actor, proving that saying no to a hit show can sometimes be the ultimate career win.