The CW plans to use a spring episode of The Vampire Diaries as a backdoor pilot for a potential spinoff, titled The Originals.

Set to air April 25, the episode would focus on half-vampire/half-werewolf hybrid Klaus Michaelson (Joseph Morgan) as 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. Former Secret Circle star Phoebe Tonkin, who joined Vampire Diaries this season as werewolf Haley, will also star in the episode and the series.

Vampire Diaries co-creator/executive producer Julie Plec will pen the episode and is attached to executive produce the spinoff with Alloy Entertainment’s Leslie Morgenstein and Gina Girolamo. It’s unclear what involvement, if any, Vampire Diaries co-creator/executive producer Kevin Williamson have.

The series would center on the Originals, the first family of vampires, introduced in the second season of Vampire Diaries. Klaus leads the family, with brother Elijah (Daniel Giles) and sister Rebekah (Claire Hold) often at his side (though they don’t always see eye to eye).

More information about the cast should be revealed in the coming weeks.

The Vampire Diaries airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on The CW.

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