'Vampire Diaries' Canceled After Season 7? Nina Dobrev's Departure Affected Ratings

Ever since Nina Dobrev's character Elena Gilbert left The Vampire Diaries, season 7 has struggled with ratings -- and it could be nearing cancelation.

Last year, Dobrev announced season 6 of the supernatural-themed drama would be her last, and there were numerous rumors saying her departure from the show was due to ex Ian Somerhalder's relationship with now-wife Nikki Reed.

According to Celebrity Dirty Laundry, Somerhalder took to social media to thank fans for watching the show after the episode from last Friday, Feb. 12, and it might be because he fears the show doesn't have long left.

Still, even if cancelation isn't pending, it seems like years after The CW staple show began airing, the people behind it might need a break. Julie Plec, who co-created The Vampire Diaries, recently spoke to E! Online about the future of the show, saying she's already planning an end for the time when Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, the two stars of the show (who play brothers Damon and Stefan Salvatore, respectively), are done with it.

In other words, whenever the two actors decide to step down, Plec will follow and work with them to create the best way to wrap up this long-running story.

"When they are ready to be done telling the story, I will put my pencil down and say that I'm done too, and then we will work together to end it in the best way possible," Plec told the outlet. "There's always things that could go wrong in that scenario, there's always pressure that can be put on, but ... the three of us I'd like to think will make the creative decision of when the show should be over."

Michael Ausiello, founder and editor-in-chief of TVLine, spoke to Plec about Dobrev perhaps coming back for the end of this season, and it turns out that it'd be a bad sign: when Dobrev's Elena comes back, it'll be because the show is ending.