Entertainment TV Nina Dobrev in Talks to Return for 'The Vampire Diaries' ' Finale CW president Mark Pedowitz says he hopes Dobrev can return in the final season By Patrick Gomez Patrick Gomez Patrick Gomez is the Editor in Chief/General Manager of Entertainment Weekly. Formerly at People magazine and The A.V. Club, the Critics Choice and Television Critics Association member has appeared on 'Today,' 'Extra!,' 'Access Hollywood,' 'E! News,' 'CNN,' and 'Nightline,' and can be seen frequently on 'Good Morning America.' Follow the Texas Native at @PatrickGomezLA wherever your media is social for all things 'For All Mankind' 'Top Chef,' and puppy related. People Editorial Guidelines Published on August 11, 2016 03:25PM EDT Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Annette Brown/The CW As Vampire Diaries heads into its eighth and final season, it appears the door is open for former star Nina Dobrev to make a surprise return to The CW drama. “We’d love to have her back,” CW president Mark Pedowitz told reporters at the Television Critics Association’s press tour on Thursday. “Hopefully she’ll be back, but should it not work out, [showrunner Julie Plec] has planned a great series finale that will satisfy fans.” Dobrev left the show at the end of the sixth season but her character wasn’t killed off. Instead, Elena was put into what equates to a vegetative state, which leaves the door open for her to return and to her soulmate, Damon (Ian Somerhalder). And it looks like there may be other former cast members who could return before the final episode ends. “I will say that at some point over the course of this season, I would like to see everyone’s face that I can possibly see again, whether it be in the finale or in flashbacks or the characters who are still alive finding their way through Mystic Falls one last time,” Plec told Entertainment Weekly Thursday. “This year is about delivering on eight seasons worth of passion and enthusiasm for these characters, and I would be really disappointed not to be able to show off all their faces one last time.” The Vampire Diaries returns Oct. 21 at 8 p.m. ET on The CW.