Legacies is an American fantasy drama television series, created by Julie Plec, that aired from October 25, 2018, to June 16, 2022, on the CW. A spinoff of The Originals, it is part of The Vampire Diaries Universe, and features characters from both The Originals and its predecessor, The Vampire Diaries. Danielle Rose Russell stars as the 17-year-old Hope Mikaelson, continuing the role she originated in the fifth and final season of The Originals. Matt Davis also stars in the series, reprising his role as Alaric Saltzman from The Vampire Diaries. In May 2022, it was announced that the fourth season would be its final season.
Premise Legacies follows Hope Mikaelson, the daughter of Klaus Mikaelson and Hayley Marshall, who is descended from some of the most powerful ancient, original vampires, werewolf, and witch bloodlines. Two years after the events of The Originals, 17-year-old Hope attends the Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted, run by Alaric Saltzman and also attended by his twin witch daughters Lizzie and Josie Saltzman. The school provides a secret haven where supernatural beings can learn to control their abilities and impulses safe from the outside world. The institution is designed to educate and protect young supernatural beings, including vampires, witches, and werewolves. The series explores their challenges in mastering their powers, forming relationships, and confronting various magical creatures and threats along the way.
Episodes
Cast and characters Main Danielle Rose Russell as Hope Mikaelson: a teenage orphan and student at the Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted who is descended from some of the most powerful vampire, werewolf, and witch bloodlines via her parents, Klaus Mikaelson and Hayley Marshall, making her the first "tribrid". Aria Shahghasemi as Landon Kirby: Rafael's foster brother and a friend and romantic interest of Hope, who eventually becomes her boyfriend and fellow student at the Salvatore School. Initially thought to be a human, he is then suspected of being a supernatural being after vampire powers like compulsion do not work on him. The character was introduced in The Originals season 5 as a local boy in Mystic Falls who has a crush on Hope. Kaylee Bryant as Josie Saltzman (seasons 1–4): a witch and student at the Salvatore School. She is Alaric's 15-year-old daughter, Lizzie's twin, and was named after her biological mother, Josette "Jo" Laughlin of the powerful Gemini coven. Josie is deferential to her sister, Lizzie, and lacks self-confidence, often putting Lizzie first in lieu of herself. Bryant departs the show midway through season 4. The character was introduced in The Vampire Diaries as a baby and toddler and then a young teen in The Originals. Jenny Boyd as Lizzie Saltzman: a witch and student at the Salvatore School. She is Alaric's 15-year-old daughter, Josie's twin, and was named after Elizabeth Forbes, the late mother of the twins' surrogate mother, Caroline Forbes. Lizzie is bipolar. She later becomes a heretic vampire-witch. The character was introduced in The Vampire Diaries as a baby and toddler and then a young teen in The Originals. Quincy Fouse as Milton "MG" Greasley: A good-natured vampire who works as Alaric's student aide and is friendly with the Saltzman twins and romantically interested in Lizzie. He struggles to control his thirst and risks being a ripper. Peyton Alex Smith as Rafael Waithe (seasons 1–3; special guest star season 4): a recently triggered werewolf and Landon's foster brother and best friend. After suffering an abusive childhood in the foster system, he becomes a student at the Salvatore School and alpha of the school werewolf pack. He has romantic entanglements with Lizzie, Hope and Josie. Matt Davis as Alaric Saltzman: Josie and Lizzie's father and the human headmaster and co-founder of the Salvatore School. He is close to Hope and trains her privately, acting like a surrogate father to her after Klaus's death. Davis described Alaric's role in the series as "somewhere between Professor X and Dumbledore". The character was introduced in The Vampire Diaries. Chris Lee as Kaleb Hawkins (seasons 2–4; recurring, seasons 1–2): a brash vampire student who is revealed to be drinking the blood of humans, a practice that is banned at the school. In the fourth season, he becomes half-dragon after Malivore causes a dragon to possess Kaleb. He is close with MG. Ben Levin as Jed Tien (seasons 3–4; recurring, seasons 1–2): the hot-headed and violent alpha werewolf at the school, who is soon replaced as alpha by Rafael. He later becomes friends with the others and Rafael and stops his violence. Leo Howard as Ethan Machado (seasons 3–4; guest, season 2): a student at Mystic Falls High School and Sheriff Mac's son. He becomes friends with MG and romantically interested in Lizzie which causes tension between him and MG. In the fourth season, he is turned into a mythical creature called a pukwudgie by Malivore, which grants Ethan the power of phasing and teleportation. Omono Okojie as Cleo Sowande (season 4; recurring, seasons 3–4): a witch and a new student at the Salvatore School who becomes Hope's roommate. She is later revealed to have been a slave of Malivore and a muse. She joins the school's students, aiding in their fight against Malivore.
Recurring
Demetrius Bridges as Dorian Williams: the librarian and a teacher at the Salvatore School. He has a master's degree in library sciences and a strong knowledge of the supernatural, being a former student of Alaric's. The character was introduced in The Vampire Diaries. He is dating Emma. Lulu Antariksa as Penelope Park (season 1): a mischief-stirring witch and Josie's ex-girlfriend who despises Lizzie. She enjoys meddling in other's lives. Karen David as Emma Tig: a witch and the school's guidance counselor. She represents the lower school in the honour council. She takes an indefinite leave-of-absence from the Salvatore School near the end of the first season. She returns later in the second season, ultimately leaving with Dorian. She returns to Mystic Falls with Dorian in the third season. Ben Geurens as the Necromancer: one of the creatures from Malivore who has the power to bring back the dead Nick Fink as Ryan Clarke: a seemingly good-natured agent working for Triad Industries, he is later revealed to have sinister motives and a connection to both Malivore and Landon Elijah B. Moore as Wade Rivers (season 4; co-starring, seasons 2–4): A student at the Salvatore School who was initially believed to be a witch Ebboney Wilson as Kym Hawkins (season 2): Kaleb's human sister with whom MG begins a relationship Bianca Kajlich as Sheriff Mac (seasons 2–3): the new sheriff in Mystic Falls. She is Ethan and Maya's mother Bianca Santos as Maya Machado (season 2; guest, season 4): a student at Mystic Falls High School who is Sheriff Mac's daughter and Ethan's sister Alexis Denisof as Professor Vardemus (season 2; guest, season 4): the temporary new headmaster of the Salvatore School, before the position is given back to Alaric Thomas Doherty as Sebastian (season 2): an over-600-year-old vampire who died as a teen Olivia Liang as Alyssa Chang (seasons 2–3): a student witch at the Salvatore School who likes to instigate drama among her peers Charles Jazz Terrier as Chad (seasons 2–3): a follower of and servant to the Necromancer Giorgia Whigham as Jade (seasons 2–3): a vampire who turned off her humanity after accidentally killing a friend years prior Courtney Bandeko as Finch Tarrayo (seasons 3–4): a student at Mystic Falls High School in whom Josie takes a romantic interest Zane Phillips as Ben (season 4), a demigod also known as Prometheus who has a strange effect on monsters Piper Curda as Jen (season 4), a student in Vardemus' college class Luke Mitchell as Ken (season 4), the King of the Gods who has been put in stasis by Jen
Special guest stars Zach Roerig as Matt Donovan (in "This Is the Part Where You Run", "Hope Is Not the Goal"): the town's sheriff and later mayor who has a troubled past with the supernatural.p The character was introduced in The Vampire Diaries. Steven R. McQueen as Jeremy Gilbert (in "We're Being Punked, Pedro"): Alaric's old friend who saves Rafael and Landon from a werewolf hunter. The character was introduced in The Vampire Diaries. Riley Voelkel as Freya Mikaelson (in "That's Nothing I Had to Remember", "We All Knew This Day Was Coming", and "Everything That Can Be Lost May Also Be Found"): One of Hope's aunts and a powerful witch. The character was introduced in The Originals. Chris Wood as Kai Parker (in "Kai Parker Screwed Us", "You Can't Save Them All"): Josie and Lizzie's evil maternal uncle who murdered their mother Jo, who was his twin and Alaric's fiancée. The character was introduced in The Vampire Diaries. Claire Holt as Rebekah Mikaelson (in "I Thought You'd Be Happier to See Me", "Everything That Can Be Lost May Also Be Found"): One of Hope's aunts and one of the Original vampires. The character was introduced in The Vampire Diaries. Rebecca Breeds as Aurora de Martel (recurring, season 4): An ancient vampire who was Rebekah's first sire, Aurora was romantically involved with Klaus in the past. She is portrayed as having a condition akin to bipolar disorder, which intensified after being turned into a vampire. She was desiccated in the third season of The Originals, where the character was introduced. Charles Michael Davis as Marcel Gerard (in "Everything That Can Be Lost May Also Be Found"): Rebekah's husband and Hope's uncle, Marcel was first turned into a vampire years before by Klaus and became part of the family. The character was introduced in The Vampire Diaries. Nathaniel Buzolic as Kol Mikaelson (in "Everything That Can Be Lost May Also Be Found"): Hope's uncle and one of the Original vampires. The character was introduced in The Vampire Diaries. Candice King as Caroline Forbes (in "Just Don't Be a Stranger, Okay?"): Lizzie and Josie's vampire mother and the co-founder of the Salvatore School with Alaric. She has a romantic past with Hope's father, Klaus. The character was introduced in The Vampire Diaries. Joseph Morgan as Klaus Mikaelson (in "Just Don't Be a Stranger, Okay?"): Hope's father, the original hybrid and a member of the Mikaelson family. The character was introduced in The Vampire Diaries.
Notable guest stars Jodi Lyn O'Keefe as Jo Laughlin (in "Mombie Dearest"): Alaric's deceased witch fiancée, and Josie and Lizzie's biological mother. The character was introduced in The Vampire Diaries. Ayelet Zurer as Seylah Chelon (in "Maybe I Should Start from the End", "I Wouldn't Be Standing Here If It Weren't For You"): Landon's mother, who abandoned him at birth Jedidiah Goodacre as Roman (in "Let's Just Finish the Dance", "I'll Tell You a Story"): Hope's former classmate and boyfriend who is a 90-year-old vampire and was involved in the death of her mother. The character was introduced in The Originals. Summer Fontana as young Hope Marshall (in "A New Hope", "I Thought You'd Be Happier to See Me"): A younger 13-year-old Hope, from when Lizzie and Josie were 11 years old; Fontana first played 7-year-old Hope in season 4 of The Originals.
Production Development In August 2017, it was announced that early discussions on the development of a spinoff of The Originals focusing on Hope Mikaelson, the daughter of Klaus Mikaelson and Hayley Marshall, were taking place with Julie Plec, creator of The Originals and co-creator of The Vampire Diaries. In January 2018, it was revealed that a pilot for the spinoff had been ordered; Plec penned the pilot script and is credited with creating the series. It was announced in March 2018 that the spinoff had been ordered to pilot, but instead of a traditional pilot, a fifteen-minute pilot presentation of the series would be presented to The CW.