The Powerful Thing Drew Barrymore Does for People Every Day, According to Jamie Lee Curtis

The Powerful Thing Drew Barrymore Does for People Every Day, According to Jamie Lee Curtis Mary Ellen MorinDecember 19, 2025 at 4:27 AM 0 We all remember Drew Barrymore as the blondhaired little girl who befriended an alien in Steven Spielberg's 1982 blockbuster hit E.T. Her acting career started at just 6 years old, and she instantly became an American screen icon as she grew up in front of our eyes. Barrymore has gone on to have a successful career, starring in some memorable roles over the years—from forgetful Lucy in 50 First Dates to a karatechopping Dylan in Charlie's Angels.

- - The Powerful Thing Drew Barrymore Does for People Every Day, According to Jamie Lee Curtis

Mary Ellen MorinDecember 19, 2025 at 4:27 AM

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We all remember Drew Barrymore as the blond-haired little girl who befriended an alien in Steven Spielberg's 1982 blockbuster hit E.T. Her acting career started at just 6 years old, and she instantly became an American screen icon as she grew up in front of our eyes.

Barrymore has gone on to have a successful career, starring in some memorable roles over the years—from forgetful Lucy in 50 First Dates to a karate-chopping Dylan in Charlie's Angels. In 2020, the actress started her own talk show, The Drew Barrymore Show, in which she's known for providing an intimate, comfortable space and a lap dog for her guests to share their stories.

WhenJamie Lee Curtis sat down with Barrymore on her show this week, she told a story that brought on a comparison of the actresses' vastly different childhoods. This led to a poignant discovery about Barrymore's life that brought on the emotions.

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In the clip, the two are seen sitting on the floor in front of what Curtis calls the "compassionate comfort care couch," leaning in like they're old friends. Curtis tells a story about how her mom, actress Janet Leigh, would not allow her to audition for a role in the movie The Exorcist at 11 or 12 years old in an effort to protect her and her childhood.

"You didn't get that option," Curtis says. "No, I didn't," Barrymore confirms. This leads to Curtis praising Barrymore for what she does every day—leaning in, showing compassion, and listening to stories. According to Curtis, what Barrymore missed in childhood, her voice and choice, is exactly what she is giving to others as an adult. "It's a gift," Curtis says, referring to Barrymore's skillful listening, empathy, and hosting style that reflects care rather than performance.

Growing up in the spotlight can have a lasting impact on a person's emotional development and adult identity. Research shows that the pressures of early fame—from disrupted routines to intense public scrutiny- can influence many aspects of former child actors' lives well into their adult years. Drew Barrymore is among many other celebrities, including Natalie Portman and Jodie Sweetin have been candid about how their early experiences have shaped them into who they are today.

Barrymore was humbled and overcome with emotion in the clip of the interview, and fans have echoed Curtis's sentiment:

"The gift Jamie just gave Drew in the form of understanding and compassion is so beautiful ❤️," one gushing fan responded.

"The acknowledgement of what she wasn't given as a kid and the acknowledgement in what she's doing now because of it... This is beautiful! The way it unfolds is almost her own personal way of therapy. Couch time with Drew is therapeutic. @thedrewbarrymoreshow," another touchingly shared.

Related: Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore Share Surprising Truth About Movies They've Worked On Together

This story was originally published by Parade on Dec 19, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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The Powerful Thing Drew Barrymore Does for People Every Day, According to Jamie Lee Curtis

The Powerful Thing Drew Barrymore Does for People Every Day, According to Jamie Lee Curtis Mary Ellen MorinDecember ...

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Newcomers include Oona Chaplin and David Thewlis. Avatar: Fire and Ash cast: See the returning favorites (and new Na'vi) bringing the heat to Pandora Newcomers include Oona Chaplin and David Thewlis. By Allison DeGrushe :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/allisondegrusheEWbiophotoe5f8e89253c84b7085a43c502a3051a4.jpg) Allison DeGrushe Allison DeGrushe is a timely SEO writer at . She has been working at since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on Distractify. EW's editorial guidelines on December 16, 2025 4:26 p.m.

Newcomers include Oona Chaplin and David Thewlis.

Avatar: Fire and Ash cast: See the returning favorites (and new Na'vi) bringing the heat to Pandora

Newcomers include Oona Chaplin and David Thewlis.

By Allison DeGrushe

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Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) and Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) in 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'. Credit:

20th Century Studios

- *Avatar: Fire & Ash *hits theaters on Friday, Dec. 19.

- Joining the *Avatar *universe are *Games of Thrones* alum Oona Chaplin and *Harry Potter* star David Thewlis.**

- Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, and Stephen Lang are among the returning cast members.**

*Avatar: Fire and Ash* continues James Cameron's epic eco-saga, serving as a flame-scorched follow-up to 2022's *Avatar: The Way of Water*.

*Fire and Ash* finds the threat from the human RDA colonizers looming over Pandora as Jake (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) grieve the loss of their eldest son. But they'll also have to reckon with a new adversary in Varang (Oona Chaplin), the leader of the Ash People, a volcanic clan of Na'vi.

"[You] think of fire as hatred, anger, violence, that sort of thing, and ash is the aftermath. So what's the aftermath? Grief, loss, right?" Cameron previously told **. "And then what does that cause in the future? More violence, more anger, more hatred. It's a vicious cycle."

This cycle, in particular, brings fresh faces into the mix as the audience is exposed to new corners of Pandora. Below, we break down who's coming back and who's joining the fight in *Avatar: Fire and Ash*.

Sam Worthington as Jake Sully

Sam Worthington at the premiere of 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'; Jake Sully in 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'.

Rodin Eckenroth/Getty; 20th Century Studios

Before his breakout in *Avatar*, Sam Worthington appeared in films like *Hart's War* (2002), *Somersault *(2004), and *Terminator Salvation* (2009), the latter an entry in another Cameron franchise.

After joining the *Avatar *universe, Worthington helped lead *Clash of the Titans* (2010) and its 2012 sequel, then collaborated with filmmakers like David Ayer (*Sabotage*), Mel Gibson (*Hacksaw Ridge*), and Kevin Coster (*Horizon: An American Saga*). He also played leading roles on a pair of series: Discovery's *Manhunt* (2017) and FX's *Under the Banner of Heaven* (2022).

In *Avatar: Fire and Ash*, Worthington returns as Jake Sully, the human-turned-Na'vi leader who finds love with Neytiri. The actor previously told EW that Neteyam's death awakens a more "primal" side of Jake, who's been trying to avoid battle at all costs.

"Jake's been living with the Na'vi for 10 years now," he said. "The idea is to lean into that primal aspect a bit more, and that's just something that I'm going to keep developing over the saga."

Zoe Saldaña as Neytiri

Zoe Saldana at the premiere of 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'; Neytiri in 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'.

Michael Buckner/Getty; 20th Century Studios

Zoe Saldaña is a sci-fi regular, having found fame playing Gamora in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Uhura in the *Star Trek *franchise, and, of course, Neytiri in *Avatar*.

But Saldaña contains multitudes. In 2024, she earned acclaim for her performance in Netflix's musical crime drama *Emilia Pérez,* taking home the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. On the small screen, she stars on and executive produces the Taylor Sheridan spy series *Lioness *(2023–present).

Here, Saldaña reprises her role as Na'vi warrior Neytiri, Jake's wife and the mother of their children: Neteyam, Lo'ak, Kiri, and Tuk.

The actress recently told Collider that Neytiri's grief over her son's death has turned her into a "full-blown racist" against the sky people, a.k.a. the humans.

"Neytiri's a full-blown racist in this movie," she told the outlet. "This is a woman who has experienced an extreme amount of loss at the hands of a race, of a species that she [doesn't recognize] as her own, and that she doesn't understand. She doesn't want to accept them, and yet she falls in love with one of them and has a family with them."

She added, "But what Neytiri must do is she must grow. She has to, because her children depend on it."

Sigourney Weaver as Kiri

Sigourney Weaver at the premiere of 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'; Kiri in 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'.

Jesse Grant/Getty; 20th Century Studios

Long before *Avatar*, three-time Oscar nominee Sigourney Weaver was already a sci-fi icon thanks to her role as Ellen Ripley in *Alien *franchise (1986–1997).

Fans might also know Weaver from the *Ghostbusters *franchise (1984–2021), *Galaxy Quest* (1999), *The Cabin in the Woods* (2011), and *The Gorge* (2025). Next, she'll join the *Star Wars* universe in *The Mandalorian and Grogu*.

Weaver originally joined *Avatar *as Dr. Grace Augustine, but now plays Kiri, the teen daughter of Grace's Na'vi avatar. She was adopted by Jake and Neytiri.

Reflecting on the role, Weaver recently said that playing Kiri forced her to revisit her own adolescence. "I think for me, the biggest surprise was that that time in my life was a really unhappy time and I was away from home," she said. "And I really had to learn what Kiri learns, which is kind of having the courage to make your way through."

Stephen Lang as Colonel Miles Quaritch

Stephen Lang at the premiere of 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'; Quaritch in 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'.

Ben Montgomery/WireImage; 20th Century Studios

Tony nominee Stephen Lang was a seasoned performer by the time he began playing Colonel Miles Quaritch in the *Avatar *films. Highlights from the imposing performer's long resume include *Manhunter *(1986), *Tombstone *(1993), and the *Don't Breathe *films (2016–2021).

In *Avatar: Fire and Ash, *Lang reprises his role as Quaritch, the former RDA chief, now resurrected as a Na'vi and driven by vengeance against Jake and his family.

"I'm the advocate for this character," Lang recently told* The Wrap*. "But he's got his own story to tell. The stakes are very, very high for him as well. … I find it incredibly gratifying that people find the story worthwhile and interesting, and that … people, they can despise him, but they can also respect him right away."

Oona Chaplin as Varang

Oona Chaplin at the premiere of 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'; Varang in 'Avatar: Fire and Ash';.

Karwai Tang/WireImage; 20th Century Studios

Oona Chaplin is best known for her turn as *Game of Thrones*' Talisa Stark, whose gory fate at season 3's Red Wedding still has fans talking. Since then, she's stayed busy on TV with roles on *The Crimson Field *(2014), *Black Mirror *(2014), *Taboo *(2017), and *The Comey Rule *(2020).

Now, Chaplin makes her *Avatar *debut in *Fire and Ash* as Varang, the fiery new villain and leader of the Mangkwan clan, a.k.a. the Ash People, a tribe of Na'vi who live among volcanoes. Her anger stems from a catastrophic event that annihilated the clan's homeland.

In a recent interview with EW, Chaplin described how Varang was activated by that natural disaster.

"A lot of people died horribly, and then people were starving and there was nothing," Chaplin said. "It killed all of life in her zone. Her whole world was destroyed. Instead of becoming defeated by it, she went towards the fire. She went towards the thing that had destroyed everything that she loved, and she became a devotee of this power, this force of fire."

David Thewlis as Peylak

David Thewlis at the premiere of 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'; Peylak in 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty; 20th Century Studios

David Thewlis is widely recognized for playing werewolf Remus Lupin in the *Harry Potter *films (2004–2011), but his career stretches way beyond the wizarding world.

He rose to fame with incendiary turns in the Mike Leigh films *Life Is Sweet* (1990) and *Naked* (1993), and went on to steal scenes in movies like *The Big Lebowski *(1998), *The Theory of Everything *(2014), and *I'm Thinking of Ending Things *(2020).

You may also recognize him from season 3 of FX's *Fargo* (2017), for which he was nominated for an Emmy and a Golden Globe. Most recently, he's taken on leading roles on series like *The Artful Dodger *(2023–present) and *Sherlock & Daughter *(2025).

Thewlis plays Peylak in *Avatar: Fire and Ash*, the leader of the Wind Traders, a nomadic, sky-bound clan that travels across Pandora in a flying caravan.

Cameron hinted to *Empire* that Peylak and the Wind Traders will become increasingly important as the franchise evolves. "They're going to be throughout the cycle of 3, 4 and 5," he said. "They're still 100% Na'vi but they're not place-specific, which is different because most indigenous people are very rooted in their sense of place."

As for Peylak himself, the director suggested he's playing "a long game," with plans that stretch well beyond *Fire And Ash*.**

Britain Dalton as Lo'ak

Britain Dalton at the premiere of 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'; Lo'ak in 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'.

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic; 20th Century Studios

Before becoming part of the *Avatar *franchise, Britain Dalton starred in the first season of the Amazon Prime legal series *Goliath* (2016). He later appeared in the films *Ready Player One* (2018) and *Dark Harvest *(2023).

Here, Dalton reprises his role as Lo'ak, Jake and Neytiri's second and only surviving son.

Trinity Bliss as Tuk

Trinity Bliss at the premiere of 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'; Tuk in 'Avatar: The Way of Water'.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty; 20th Century Studios

Trinity Bliss made her film debut in *Avatar: The Way of Water, *and recently appeared in Mike Flanagan's *The Life of Chuck *(2024)*. *You may also recognize her voice from Netflix's *Princess Power *(2023–2024).

Bliss is also a singer and released her first studio album, *Confessions of a Preteen*, in 2023.

She returns to Pandora as Tuk, the youngest child of Jake and Neytiri.

Jack Champion as Spider

Jack Champion at the premiere of 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'; Spider in 'Avatar: The Way of Water'.

Stefania D'Alessandro/Getty; 20th Century Studios

Like many of his younger costars, Jack Champion burst onto the scene in *Avatar: The Way of Water*. Since then, he's appeared in numerous films, including *Scream VI* (2023), *Freaky Tales *(2024), and *Everything's Going to Be Great *(2025).

Next, he'll star in the Netflix comedy *Don't Say Good Luck* alongside Sunny Sandler, Adam Sandler's youngest daughter.

Champion returns in *Avatar: Fire and Ash*, stepping back into the role of Miles "Spider" Socorro, Quaritch's teen son who was born on Pandora and later taken in by Jake and Neytiri.

Cliff Curtis as Tonowari

Cliff Curtis at the premiere of 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'; Tonowari in 'Avatar: The Way of Water'.

Kevin Winter/WireImage; 20th Century Studios

Cliff Curtis is among New Zealand's most versatile actors, building a filmography that spans Hollywood blockbusters, indie darlings, and acclaimed TV shows.

Curtis has appeared in dozens of projects, most notably *Training Day *(2001), *Fear the Walking Dead *(2015–2017), *The Meg *(2018), and *Invincible *(2023–present).

Curtis returns as Tonowari, the leader of the Metkayina clan and Ronal's husband.

Kate Winslet as Ronal

Kate Winslet at a screening of Netflix's 'Goodbye June'; Ronal in 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'.

John Nacion/FilmMagic; 20th Century Studios

Kate Winslet's career needs little introduction. The actress has six Academy Award nominations to her name, including one for Cameron's *Titanic *(1997). She won the Oscar for Best Actress for *The Reader *(2008), and is also a two-time Emmy winner for *Mildred Pierce *(2011)* *and *Mare of Easttown* (2021).

In 2025, Winslet made her directorial debut with *Goodbye June*, a holiday drama written by her son, Joe Anders.

Winslet returns for *Avatar: Fire and Ash *as Ronal, the spiritual heart of the Metkayina clan and Tonowari's wife.

Bailey Bass as Tsireya

Bailey Bass at the premiere of 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'; Tsireya in 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'.

Pierre Suu/WireImage; 20th Century Studios

Bailey Bass first drew attention as Claudia in season 1 of *Interview with the Vampire* (2022). That same year, she starred in the Lifetime movie *A Gift of Murder* as a high school student who clashes with the mean girl at her new school.

Outside of acting, Bass studies psychology at Columbia University.

Here, she reprises her role as Tsireya, a member of the Metkayina clan and Tonowari and Ronal's daughter. She is also Lo'ak's love interest.

Where can I watch Avatar: Fire and Ash?**

*Avatar: Fire and Ash *hits theaters on Friday, Dec. 19.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

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Avatar: Fire and Ash cast: See the returning favorites (and new Na'vi) bringing the heat to Pandora

Newcomers include Oona Chaplin and David Thewlis. Avatar: Fire and Ash cast: See the returning favorites (and new Na'vi...

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Rob Reiner opened up about son Nick's drug addiction and his own regrets dealing with it: 'There'...

The director called the 2015 movie &34;Being Charlie&34; — about a son's struggle with addiction and cowritten by Nick — his &34;most personal film&34; in a previous interview with EW Radio on SiriusXM. Rob Reiner opened up about son Nick's drug addiction and his own regrets dealing with it: 'There's no end' The director called the 2015 movie &34;Being Charlie&34; — about a son's struggle with addiction and cowritten by Nick — his &34;most personal film&34; in a previous interview with EW Radio on SiriusXM.

The director called the 2015 movie "Being Charlie" — about a son's struggle with addiction and co-written by Nick — his "most personal film" in a previous interview with EW Radio on SiriusXM.

Rob Reiner opened up about son Nick's drug addiction and his own regrets dealing with it: 'There's no end'

The director called the 2015 movie "Being Charlie" — about a son's struggle with addiction and co-written by Nick — his "most personal film" in a previous interview with EW Radio on SiriusXM.

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Rob Reiner at the SiriusXM studio in New York in 2016. Credit:

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The late Rob Reiner had spoken candidly about his son, Nick — who is now charged with his parents' deaths on Sunday — and his attempts to help him with his substance abuse.

"There's no end to it," Reiner told ** for EW Radio on SiriusXM in 2015 when his movie *Being Charlie*, which was based on his family's own experiences with addiction, was released. "Whatever the issues are that you will struggle with and the reason why you self-medicated with either drugs or alcohol or gambling or sex addiction — whatever it is — those issues are there."

He continued, "And you have to wrestle with them and deal with those issues your whole life. And, hopefully, with the right kind of help, you can manage, and you can manage those things, so that you don't wind up self-medicating. And those issues are always gonna be there, and we don't wrap it up with a happy bow. Its life goes on."

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

Nick, 32, was officially charged Tuesday in the murders of his parents, Rob and photographer Michele Singer Reiner.

The director of popular movies such as *When Harry Met Sally* and *The American President *described *Being Charlie* as "the most personal film that I've done."

Nick Reiner reportedly stormed off after Bill Hader shut him down at Conan O'Brien's party before murders

James Woods tears up mourning late Rob Reiner, slams 'distasteful' attacks: 'He really fought for me'

Reiner noted that Nick had gone into "a number of rehab programs" in his late teens, and he wanted to present the story from the perspective of his son, as well as himself and his wife. He said the project helped him to better understand what Nick experienced, even though he had attended meetings on the subject.

The *All in the Family* actor said what they'd been through had taught him a lesson.

"I learned something that I should have known from the beginning, which is that as a parent you know your child better than any expert would," Reiner said. "And I listened."

Rob Reiner and Nick Reiner in 2016.

Rommel Demano/Getty

Reiner said he would listen to anyone with "a desk and a diploma" while contending with his son's addiction, because he didn't know which action to take.

"You don't know what to do with your child is struggling with this, and you wanna help them because your first charge as a parent is keep your child safe," Reiner said. "And if you see them running into the street, you wanna grab them before the truck hits them. So I didn't know what to do, so I did what they told me, but what I've learned is that you know your child better, and I should have listened to my own gut more than what the experts were telling me."

In the same conversation, Reiner explained that he'd told Nick many times that he was "the heart and soul of this film."**

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Juliette Lewis plays a chair (yes, a chair) in trailer for By Design, narrated by Melanie Griffit...

&34;Her character swaps bodies with a chair...but a chair doesn't have a body,&34; Griffith points out in voice over. Juliette Lewis plays a chair (yes, a chair) in trailer for By Design, narrated by Melanie Griffith (exclusive) &34;Her character swaps bodies with a chair...but a chair doesn't have a body,&34; Griffith points out in voice over. By Mike Miller Mike Miller Mike Miller is the executive editor on the movies team at . He previously worked as a writerreporter for PEOPLE and TMZ. EW's editorial guidelines on December 17, 2025 1:25 p.m.

"Her character swaps bodies with a chair...but a chair doesn't have a body," Griffith points out in voice over.

Juliette Lewis plays a chair (yes, a chair) in trailer for *By Design, *narrated by Melanie Griffith (exclusive)

"Her character swaps bodies with a chair...but a chair doesn't have a body," Griffith points out in voice over.

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You might want to sit down for this one.

Juliette Lewis plays a chair — yep, a literal chair* *— in the upcoming film *By Design *from filmmaker Amanda Kramer, and * *has your exclusive look at the wacky first trailer.

Described as "an absurdist spin on the body-swap comedy," the movie (in theaters Feb. 13, 2026) follows Lewis's Camille, who, after seeing a beautiful chair at a showroom, "realizes that she truly envies the life of this perfect piece of furniture," per the film's official synopsis.

"I wish I could just *be* you," Camille whispers, clinging to the seat.**

Juliette Lewis and Mamoudou Athie in 'By Design'.

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A voice-over gives the trailer a meta twist, asking cheekily, "Have you heard of this movie where Juliette Lewis plays a chair? Her character swaps bodies with a chair...but a chair doesn't have a body."

And yet, she and the object still manage to "swap forms," leaving Camille unable to move or speak. But it turns out her friends and family prefer her much better this way: Her mom (Betty Buckley) thinks she's a better listener, and her besties (Samantha Mathis and Robin Tunney) think she's easier to get along with.

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She even has better luck in the dating world, landing Olivier (Mamoudou Athie), a "minimalist bachelor who gradually becomes romanticaly fixated on his elegant new possession." In the trailer, he and Camille share a warm embrace, and later he's shown licking the chair's wood-grain seat (marking the second trailer in as many months featuring a character tonguing an inanimate object).

Narrated by Melanie Griffith, *By Design *promises to celebrate "the messiness of female interiority with deadpan humor, surrealist flourishes, and interpretative dance numbers."

Consider us seated.

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&34;Her character swaps bodies with a chair ...but a chair doesn't have a body,&34; Griffith points out in voice ...

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Jessica Jones returns in Daredevil: Born Again season 2 — Charlie Cox previews the war for New Yo...

&34;A lot of dark moments and tragic events&34; are in Matt Murdock's future, according to star Charlie Cox and Marvel TV's Brad Winderbaum. Jessica Jones returns in Daredevil: Born Again season 2 — Charlie Cox previews the war for New York (exclusive) &34;A lot of dark moments and tragic events&34; are in Matt Murdock's future, according to star Charlie Cox and Marvel TV's Brad Winderbaum. By Nick Romano :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/NicholasRomanoauthorphotoadc9b60763e34711935cbf7b3d768d24.jpg) Nick Romano is a senior editor at with 15 years of journalism experience covering entertainment.

"A lot of dark moments and tragic events" are in Matt Murdock's future, according to star Charlie Cox and Marvel TV's Brad Winderbaum.

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"A lot of dark moments and tragic events" are in Matt Murdock's future, according to star Charlie Cox and Marvel TV's Brad Winderbaum.

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Krysten Ritter and Charlie Cox on 'Daredevil: Born Again'. Credit:

Jojo Whilden/MARVEL

- Krysten Ritter's Jessica Jones is back in EW's exclusive sneak peek at *Daredevil: Born Again *season 2.

- Matthew Lillard's Mr. Charles and Lili Taylor's Governor Marge McCaffrey debut in first-look photos.

- Charlie Cox and Marvel TV head Brad Winderbaum preview the war for the soul of New York City.

It was only in the aftermath of *The Defenders*, that miniseries event on Netflix in 2017, that Charlie Cox realized how much Marvel fans were responding to the dynamic between his character, Matt Murdock, and Krysten Ritter's Jessica Jones.

"Just by the nature of who Jessica is and who Matt is, they both give as much as they get," the actor tells **. "I'm not sure we were aware of it when we were shooting it. So we've been really waiting for this opportunity for so long now to put these two on screen together and have more fun with them."

The time is now. Ritter's Jessica Jones is officially back in Mr. Murdock's orbit, as revealed in EW's exclusive first look at the character on next year's *Daredevil: Born Again* season 2.

Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock, Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page on 'Daredevil: Born Again' season 2.

Jojo Whilden/MARVEL

In the season 1 finale, Mayor Wilson Fisk (Vincent D'Onofrio) took over New York City, outlawed vigilantism, and painted the Man Without Fear as America's Most Wanted. Now Matt is in Nick Fury mode, assembling his own team capable of overthrowing this tyrant — hence the arrival of Ritter's wise-ass strongwoman sleuth who can drink all of Manhattan under the table.

Specifics of Ritter's role remain under wraps, but Brad Winderbaum, the head of Marvel Television, confirms it's comparable to the presence of Jon Bernthal's Punisher in season 1. Cox adds, "We both talked about it being important to play some of the hits, as it were, make sure that we have that same dynamic. Tongue in cheek, take the piss out of each other, but also get down to business and make sure that we're serving the story appropriately."

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If season 1 chronicled Fisk's rise to power, season 2 becomes about what it takes to maintain that power. A small amount of time has passed since that last finale, but the city remains under lockdown. Winderbaum teases "a lot of heavy themes," and "a lot of dark moments and tragic events" are on the way. "Daredevil is a revolutionary in this season," the Marvel boss says. "He's a rebel and it's fun to see him go up against the power of the city."

Governor Marge McCaffrey (Lili Taylor), Wilson Fisk (Vincent D'Onofrio), and Vanessa Fisk (Ayelet Zurer) on 'Daredevil: Born Again' season 2.

Jojo Whilden/MARVEL

Showrunner Dario Scardapane used the French Revolution as a common reference during filming, though the rebellion takes longer than the audience (and Matt himself) might expect. "It feels like one misstep and loved ones disappear. You are taken, there's no way out," Cox describes of this new reality. "It's a very claustrophobic world."

Deborah Ann Woll's Karen Page takes a more prominent part than her season 1 turn. It's a lot of conversations in secret hideouts and incognito disguises. (Note her wig work!) In Cox's eyes, "Her role is the best it's ever been. She is a badass in season 2. We get to see a side of Karen Page which I think Charlie and also Matt Murdock have always known is beneath that surface."

Elden Henson also returns as Foggy Nelson. Though the character remains six feet under, the loss continues to cast a shadow over the masked Daredevil. And what about Punisher? Last time we saw him, Frank Castle escaped Fisk's secret prison and set off into the unknown.

Wilson Fisk (Vincent D'Onofrio), Vanessa Fisk (Ayelet Zurer), Mr. Charles (Matthew Lillard) on 'Daredevil: Born Again' season 2.

Jojo Whilden/MARVEL

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

"The less I say the better," Winderbaum says. However, he does divulge, "The Punisher TV special really does connect into the time and place that *Daredevil: Born Again* season 2 takes place." Bernthal is currently at work developing a one-off Punisher TV event with *We Own This City* director Reinaldo Marcus Green for Disney+.**

Among the new players on the chessboard are Matthew Lillard and Lili Taylor (both shown in EW's photo reveals). Lillard's Mr. Charles, another power player in Fisk's orbit, is a "delicious" part, Cox describes, though the actor admittedly doesn't share scenes with him. Taylor, meanwhile, portrays New York's Governor Marge McCaffrey.

According to Winderbaum, seasons 1 and 2 are two sides of the same coin flip. The team is also well underway developing season 3, "It all feels like one story," he says. "It is one giant, amazing tapestry that Dario is weaving together here in this New York landscape."

*Daredevil: Born Again* returns in March on Disney+.

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The filmmaker calls Jack Champion's liveaction character the glue between Jake (Sam Worthington) and Quaritch (Stephen Lang). James Cameron tried writing Avatar sequels without Spider — why 'it all fell apart' The filmmaker calls Jack Champion's liveaction character the glue between Jake (Sam Worthington) and Quaritch (Stephen Lang). By Nick Romano :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/NicholasRomanoauthorphotoadc9b60763e34711935cbf7b3d768d24.jpg) Nick Romano is a senior editor at with 15 years of journalism experience covering entertainment.

The filmmaker calls Jack Champion's live-action character the glue between Jake (Sam Worthington) and Quaritch (Stephen Lang).

James Cameron tried writing Avatar sequels without Spider — why 'it all fell apart'

The filmmaker calls Jack Champion's live-action character the glue between Jake (Sam Worthington) and Quaritch (Stephen Lang).

By Nick Romano

Nick Romano is a senior editor at ** with 15 years of journalism experience covering entertainment. His work previously appeared in *Vanity Fair*, Vulture, IGN, and more.

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Jack Champion's Spider in 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'. Credit:

- James Cameron explains why he tried writing the *Avatar* sequels without Jack Champion's Spider, the only live-action character.

- The filmmaker says 'it all fell apart,' citing Spider as the glue between Jake (Sam Worthington) and Quaritch (Stephen Lang).

- Cameron originally had other plans for Spider's transformation that would allow him to breathe the air of Pandora.

Can you imagine *Avatar* without Spider? Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) sure can, but it could've been a reality.

James Cameron, the Oscar-winning writer-director behind the blockbuster film franchise, recalls to ** how he attempted to write the story of 2022's *Avatar: The Way of Water*, this month's *Avatar: Fire and Ash*, and the two future sequels without Jack Champion's character.

"We knew it was gonna be hard to shoot an actor in live action and surround that character with all these people that are twice his size [in performance-capture suits]," Cameron remembers. "I knew it was gonna be all kinds of scale stuff and it was gonna be horrific to do, which it was. I tried to write him out, and it didn't work. It all fell apart because now Jake and Quaritch are only just two guys trying to kill each other. It's too simple."

Sam Worthington's Jake Sully and Stephen Lang's General Quaritch have been archenemies since the first *Avatar* of 2009. Champion's Spider came along in the second film as the human child Quaritch conceived before his human body died and his previously digitized consciousness was uploaded into a new synthetic Na'vi form. Spider is also the unofficial fifth child of the Sully family, though Neytiri despises all Sky People, a.k.a. humans.

Quaritch (Stephen Lang) in 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'.

"If they are entangled through this kid that Jake has raised, as Quaritch tries to define his identity as this reincarnation of a former person whose memories he's imprinted with, part of his identity is as the father of this boy," Cameron explains. "So it becomes important to him in his own identity quest to try to be that father. Now, Spider doesn't want the enemy of the people that he loves to be his father. In movie 3, we see that dance, that father-son relationship continuing, but that puts Jake and Quaritch into an odd alliance."

*Avatar: Fire and Ash*, in theaters this Friday, picks up shortly after the events of *Avatar: The Way of Water*. The Sullys are still in the traditional Na'vi mourning period after the loss of Neteyam (Jamie Flatters), their eldest son who died during the events of the last film. Though, neither Jake nor Neytiri are processing it well.

James Cameron and 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' cast and crew break down the voyage of the Wind Traders

'Avatar: Fire and Ash' star Oona Chaplin shares villainous Varang's backstory

Quaritch and the RDA continue their onslaughts against the Na'vi people, but now a new threat is introduced: the Ash People, a volcanic Na'vi clan led by the relentless Varang (Oona Chaplin), who accepts the destructive power of fire as her new deity.

Spider's role becomes even more important. Certain events transpire that allow him to breathe the air of Pandora, which is typically toxic to humans, in addition to growing his own "queue" that allows him to connect with other creatures and the environment the way Na'vi do. This makes him exceptionally valuable to the RDA, which is trying to make the planet habitable for themselves.

When it comes to that story breakthrough, Cameron says, "It just seemed like you want to see hope for humans. They just can't all be tarred with a broad brush as being evil. It's a movie made by humans for a human audience, let's face it."

Spider (Jack Champion) gains the ability to breathe Pandoran air in 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

Spider's evolution stems from how *Avatar* 2 and 3 were originally designed as one movie.

Cameron spent a year trying to crack the first act of the story, while two other scribes tackled acts 2 and 3. "Spider's transformation that takes place now in *Fire and Ash* was in the first act, and it never worked," he says, "because I was stuck in this paradigm that everything that happens in the forest has to play out in the forest. It only occurred to me later, 'Well, they can fly over a forest anytime they want to and wind up back in the forest.'"

The filmmaker sees it as "this crazy hat trick" of getting an audience to root against humankind by telling the story through Na'vi eyes. He now sees this development with Spider as "an invitation for us to reconnect with nature right here in our own world."

"It allows us, as a human audience, to step outside ourselves and look at us from that perspective of nature and what we are doing in the collective," he explains. "That's interesting, but we've gotta also embed hope and aspiration within that. Wouldn't we all love to be Spider and be able to connect with Pandora and be able to connect with those creatures?"**

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Also, Julie Plec reveals why Bamon never happened. Vampire Diaries boss reveals the real reason they killed Katherine in season 5 Also, Julie Plec reveals why Bamon never happened. By Samantha Highfill :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/SamanthaHighfillauthorphoto0917254112e875604542d49744a27de908d183.jpg) Samantha Highfill Samantha Highfill is an executive editor at , where she's worked for more than 12 years covering television. EW's editorial guidelines August 18, 2021 9:00 a.m. ET Katherine Pierce was a staple of the Vampire Diaries universe.

Also, Julie Plec reveals why Bamon never happened.

Vampire Diaries boss reveals the real reason they killed Katherine in season 5

Also, Julie Plec reveals why Bamon never happened.

By Samantha Highfill

Samantha Highfill

Samantha Highfill is an executive editor at **, where she's worked for more than 12 years covering television.

EW's editorial guidelines

August 18, 2021 9:00 a.m. ET

Katherine Pierce was a staple of the *Vampire Diaries* universe. But at one point in the series, the writers had to fight to tell more of her story.

"We had to negotiate for the right to let Nina [Dobrev] play Katherine again because the season 2 Katherine [story] had really taken everything out of her and the network was being very protective," executive producer Julie Plec says about the show's fifth season during episode 5 of *EW's Binge: The Vampire Diaries*. "[The network] and studio were being very protective and they were like, 'You can't do that anymore, you can't have Katherine.'"

On an earlier episode of the podcast, Dobrev spoke about how exhausted she was at the end of season 2, the first season in which she played both Elena and Katherine in the present day. So when it came time to make Katherine human and even introduce a third Petrova doppelgänger, the writers had to get creative. "We had to basically beg the network to let us even write story for Katherine," Plec says, noting that "the triplegänger made the whole thing worth it."

Nina Dobrev as Katherine Pierce on 'The Vampire Diaries'. Tina Rowden/The CW

Fans will remember that season 5 featured Katherine taking over Elena's body, which meant that for a good chunk of the season, Dobrev only had one character to play. And then, eventually, Katherine met her demise, a decision that also came about following those negotiations. "I literally think we had to say we'll kill her in order to get permission to use her," Plec recalls.

Additionally, during the podcast, Plec discusses the choice to have Bonnie (Kat Graham) and Damon (Ian Somerhalder) be the two characters who "die" together at the end of season 5, which led to a discussion about Bamon, the popular ship. "Bonnie and Damon had a thing in the books we had sort of always said, 'We don't buy a romantic connection between Bonnie and Damon because Damon's just done too many terrible things and Bonnie just has more integrity than that,'" Plec says. "But we wanted to service that relationship in the canon a little bit."

For more about season 5—and the series overall—listen to the full episode below:

**To listen, subscribe to *EW's Binge: The Vampire Diaries* feed via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also subscribe to EW's YouTube page to catch all the video interviews and stay tuned to EW.com.**

**Related content:**

- *Vampire Diaries* bosses on the 'controversial' sire bond and the role Pedro Pascal auditioned for

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- *Vampire Diaries* creators talk season 1 Katherine twist, the fan response that left them 'aghast'

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Vampire Diaries boss reveals the real reason they killed Katherine in season 5

Also, Julie Plec reveals why Bamon never happened. Vampire Diaries boss reveals the real reason they killed Katherine...

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Vampire Diaries star Ian Somerhalder reveals why he was jealous of Chris Wood's Kai By Samantha Highfill :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/SamanthaHighfillauthorphoto0917254112e875604542d49744a27de908d183.jpg) Samantha Highfill Samantha Highfill is an executive editor at , where she's worked for more than 12 years covering television. EW's editorial guidelines August 20, 2021 9:00 a.m. ET The Vampire Diaries creators have talked a lot about the importance of a great villain for the series, and in its later seasons, there was one villain that stood out among the rest: Kai Parker (Chris Wood).

Vampire Diaries star Ian Somerhalder reveals why he was jealous of Chris Wood's Kai

By Samantha Highfill

Samantha Highfill

Samantha Highfill is an executive editor at **, where she's worked for more than 12 years covering television.

EW's editorial guidelines

August 20, 2021 9:00 a.m. ET

The* Vampire Diaries* creators have talked a lot about the importance of a great villain for the series, and in its later seasons, there was one villain that stood out among the rest: Kai Parker (Chris Wood). Introduced in season 6, the sociopathic siphoner quickly became a favorite in the *TVD* fandom, and for Ian Somerhalder, whose Damon Salvatore was the series' first villain, Kai marked a significant shift for the show.

In episode 6 of *EW's Binge: The Vampire Diaries*, Somerhalder recalls his hesitation about Damon becoming a good — or at least better — guy in the show's third season. "I was so upset about the trajectory of Damon," Somerhalder says. "So much so that at one point I was sitting across from [executive producer] Julie [Plec] in her office in Atlanta almost in tears so angry about this."

Plec, along with her co-creator Kevin Williamson, explained that Damon couldn't be what they called a "one trick pony," that he was going to be the villain at times and the hero at others. But that's precisely why Somerhalder says he was jealous of what Chris Wood got to do as Kai in season 6. "That's why I was always so in love with what Chris Wood was doing on screen, because up until that moment, there was never a character in the show, other than Stefan in the Ripper age, that actually had the ability to not be so serious, to do horrific things but do it with a smile," Somerhalder says.

As far as Wood's inspiration for Kai, Wood, who's also on the podcast, says, "We talked about Ted Bundy if he was really funny. It was the worst person in the world who's also like maybe a good hang if you can get him to shut up for a second. That was sort of what I was always going for."

For more listen to the full podcast episode, featuring Somerhalder, Wood and executive producer Julie Plec, below:

**To listen, subscribe to *EW's Binge: The Vampire Diaries* feed via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also subscribe to EW's YouTube page to catch all the video interviews, and stay tuned to EW.com.**

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Vampire Diaries star Ian Somerhalder reveals why he was jealous of Chris Wood's Kai

Vampire Diaries star Ian Somerhalder reveals why he was jealous of Chris Wood's Kai By Samantha Highfill :maxbytes...

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Vampire Diaries writers and Candice King discuss the 'most bananas' season 7 twist By Samantha Highfill :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/SamanthaHighfillauthorphoto0917254112e875604542d49744a27de908d183.jpg) Samantha Highfill Samantha Highfill is an executive editor at , where she's worked for more than 12 years covering television. EW's editorial guidelines August 25, 2021 9:00 a.m. ET Over the course of its eight seasons, The Vampire Diaries' mythology changed every now and then to fit a certain story.

Vampire Diaries writers and Candice King discuss the 'most bananas' season 7 twist

By Samantha Highfill

Samantha Highfill

Samantha Highfill is an executive editor at **, where she's worked for more than 12 years covering television.

EW's editorial guidelines

August 25, 2021 9:00 a.m. ET

Over the course of its eight seasons, *The Vampire Diaries*' mythology changed every now and then to fit a certain story. But in its seventh season, the show delivered its biggest change from its established mythology when, suddenly, Caroline (Candice King) became pregnant via a magical transfer. Even though she was a vampire, she was somehow carrying Alaric (Matthew Davis) and Jo's (Jodi Lyn O'Keefe) twins.

The twist was something the writers thought up as a way to soften the tragedy at the end of season 6 when Kai (Chris Wood) killed Jo and her unborn children—on her wedding day, no less. "We had always left that [story thread] hanging on instinct," writer Neil Reynolds says during episode 7 of *EW's Binge: The Vampire Diaries*.

Executive producer Julie Plec adds, "Because of the tragedy of the twins and Jo dying and looking for story for Alaric for the season, we had separately come up with the story of the woman who knocks on his door and is like, 'I think I'm pregnant with your babies.'" But the writers weren't sure if that twist was *too* crazy, so they didn't originally plan to go there. Until star Candice King called to let them know she was pregnant. "I was very nervous to make that call," King says on the podcast.

Candice King on 'The Vampire Diaries'. Bob Mahoney/The CW

Ultimately, the writers decided to work in King's pregnancy and use the aforementioned story, only instead of a random woman showing up pregnant, Caroline would carry Ric's kids. Plec remembers warning CW president Mark Pedowitz about "the most bananas thing" she was ever going to pitch him at the time, but surprisingly, he wasn't fazed. And thus Caroline's pregnancy became part of the series and will always go down as one of the show's most unexpected turns.

For more about season 7, listen to the full episode of the podcast below:

**To listen, subscribe to *EW's Binge: The Vampire Diaries* feed via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also subscribe to EW's YouTube page to catch all the video interviews, and stay tuned to EW.com.**

**Related content:**

- *Vampire Diaries* star Ian Somerhalder reveals why he was jealous of Chris Wood's Kai

- *Vampire Diaries* boss reveals the real reason they killed Katherine in season 5

- *Vampire Diaries* bosses on the 'controversial' sire bond and the role Pedro Pascal auditioned for

- *Vampire Diaries* boss Julie Plec explains why Klaroline could never happen today

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW Teen"

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Vampire Diaries writers and Candice King discuss the 'most bananas' season 7 twist By Samantha Highfill :maxby...

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Listen to the final episode of EW's Binge: Vampire Diaries podcast. Vampire Diaries bosses on casting Enzo as a Salvatore brother and Damon's fate in the finale Listen to the final episode of EW's Binge: Vampire Diaries podcast. By Samantha Highfill :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/SamanthaHighfillauthorphoto0917254112e875604542d49744a27de908d183.jpg) Samantha Highfill Samantha Highfill is an executive editor at , where she's worked for more than 12 years covering television. EW's editorial guidelines August 27, 2021 9:00 a.m.

Listen to the final episode of EW's Binge: Vampire Diaries podcast.

Vampire Diaries bosses on casting Enzo as a Salvatore brother and Damon's fate in the finale

Listen to the final episode of EW's Binge: Vampire Diaries podcast.

By Samantha Highfill

Samantha Highfill

Samantha Highfill is an executive editor at **, where she's worked for more than 12 years covering television.

EW's editorial guidelines

August 27, 2021 9:00 a.m. ET

For *The Vampire Diaries* creatives, casting Enzo was a particularly difficult task. Because originally, the role was going to be very different.

"You were supposed to be the third Salvatore brother," executive producer Julie Plec tells star Michael Malarkey in episode 8 of *EW's Binge: The Vampire Diaries*. Writer Brett Matthews adds, "That was always the plan, and then it went a different direction, but that's why it was so hard to find the person. We thought it was going to be a Salvatore brother, so we cast a very wide net [and] looked very hard." Ultimately, they scrapped that plan and made it so Enzo didn't share Salvatore blood, but he was a brother figure for Damon (Ian Somerhalder) for many years (and he was sired by Lily Salvatore).

But that wasn't the only plan that changed in the writers' room over the years. In discussing the *Vampire Diaries*' final season, Plec and Matthews recall the final major debate: Which Salvatore were they going to kill in the series finale? "We went back and forth in the writers' room all season long," Plec says. "We finally landed on: We're killing Damon. That's the right thing to do. He is the one with the consequence to pay. Stefan was morally a bit stronger of a character."

Michael Malarkey as Enzo and Ian Somerhalder as Damon on 'The Vampire Diaries'. Annette Brown/The CW; Bob Mahoney/The CW

Matthews adds, "Damon's a fairly obvious choice," noting that the writers really fell in love with the idea of Damon compelling Stefan (Paul Wesley) to let him die. But when executive producer Kevin Williamson proposed that it should be Stefan that dies, they started to rethink their plan. "It felt like dying for Stefan freed him from a lot of weight, whereas it felt like living for Damon freed him to go and be the man that he was always supposed to be," Plec says.

Of course, both Salvatores were meant to die in the original ending Plec and Williamson came up with during the show's second season. In that ending, "The boys would sacrifice themselves to save Elena so that Elena could go and have a life and be human and live," Plec recalls during the podcast. "To save her, they would die together, and that was always the pitch. And then when Nina [Dobrev] left, it felt like the show can't be as much about protecting Elena's happiness, although that's important to us, but we want to protect the bothers' happiness, we want them to get something out of this. Then it shifted to: We can't kill both of them for her because that feels somehow like nobody got what they wanted. Let's find a different way to give one of these brothers the happiness that they need and the other brother the closure that they need."

(One other way Dobrev leaving changed the plan? Plec says, "I thought that by the time we came back to the end of the series, whenever it was, that Elena would've found her way back to Stefan and Damon would've found a different path.")

For more about the final season, listen to the full podcast episode below:

**To listen, subscribe to *EW's Binge: The Vampire Diaries* feed via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also subscribe to EW's YouTube page to catch all the video interviews, and stay tuned to EW.com.**

**Related content:**

- *Vampire Diaries* star Ian Somerhaldher reveals why he was jealous of Chris Wood's Kai

- *Vampire Diaries* boss reveals the real reason they killed Katherine in season 5

- *Vampire Diaries* bosses on the 'controversial' sire bond and the role Pedro Pascal auditioned for

- *Vampire Diaries* boss Julie Plec explains why Klaroline could never happen today

- Sci-Fi & Fantasy Shows

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Vampire Diaries bosses on casting Enzo as a Salvatore brother and Damon's fate in the finale

Listen to the final episode of EW's Binge: Vampire Diaries podcast. Vampire Diaries bosses on casting Enzo as a Sal...

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