Ian Somerhalder: 'The Vampire Diaries' to end after Season 8

NASHVILLE, April 11 (UPI) -- The Vampire Diaries will reportedly come to a close after Season 8.

Ian Somerhalder, who plays Damon Salvatore on The CW series, announced the news Sunday at Walker Stalker Con, a zombie, horror and sci-fi convention in Nashville, Tenn.

"We have decided to do one last season to really do the story justice," the 37-year-old actor told the audience. "My role is shifting in the show and we have a lot to do."

Kat Graham, who portrays Bonnie Bonnett, had announced Season 8 will be her last at the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Awards on April 3. The 26-year-old actress did not offer an explanation at the time.

"Season 8 will be my last season," she told Us Weekly magazine. "The crew is going to be the hardest thing to let go, because we are a family. But you know what, another season is a whole other year, and we're going to blow it out."

Nina Dobrev and Steven R. McQueen, who played Elena and Jeremy Gilbert, are among the stars who have already departed the supernatural series. Sources told Hollywood Life they expect Dobrev to reprise Elena before the finale.

"When the show ends Nina will be a part of it some way shape or form," the insider said. "She is 10,000 percent coming back."

The CW president Mike Pedowitz previously told reporters Dobrev is "welcome" to return at any time. The Vampire Diaries is presently in its seventh season and was renewed for an eighth season in March.