‘The Vampire Diaries’ executive producer Julie Plec has announced that the fates of the majority of the characters on the just-renewed hit show “still hang in the balance,” TVLine is reporting. “There will be some severe and tragic consequences, and the loss of life will be extreme over the last couple of episodes,” she said. She added that a ritual has been set, and “it needs several sacrificial elements, so if it happens…there will be a lot of loss of life.”

However, Plec has described season 3 as “the Season of the Originals,” hinting that original vampire Klaus, played by Joseph Morgan, and his brother Elijah, portrayed by Daniel Gillies, should return next year. Morgan and Gillies were both hired as recurring characters for this season, but the decision to promote them to series regulars should be made when the writers begin developing stories for season 3.

Michael Trevino, who portrays werewolf Tyler Lockwood, returns to the series on the April 28 episode. The actor hinted that his character will also return for season 3, as he wants it explained what Tyler was doing when he was gone.

Plec also hinted that if characters don’t make it through the ritual and to the end of the season finale, they may not be dead for good. “We do have ways of letting our audience see their fan favorites again…over time,” she said.

Written by: Karen Benardello