THE VAMPIRE DIARIES - Cast Get Bloody in New Season 3 Promo Photos

With the new season of The Vampire Diaries set to return later this month the CW have released their latest set of promo shots and TV Line got the first look. It features the cast Nina Dobrev (Elena or is it Katherine?), Paul Wesley (Stefan), Ian Somerhalder (Damon) and Joseph Morgan (Klaus) embracing their dark side and clutching a blood-soaked piece of fruit (which at first glance looks deceptively like a human heart).

Producer Kevin Williamson told Collider what fans can expect from the new season,

€œThe fun is the obvious, which is Damon and Elena€™s relationship, and how it progresses in the pursuit for Stefan and trying to save him, if he can even be saved. Damon is being thrust into this role of hero now. We saw it happening in the second season, and it€™s a role he€™s not good at or comfortable with.€

The end of the last season saw original vampire Klaus break the curse on him freeing his werewolf side and allowing him to start a new breed of hybrids. Stefan offered his allegiance to Klaus in order to save Damian from a deadly werewolf bite. In exchange for the cure (Klaus€™ blood) Stefan started downing human blood again (and we all know that only leads to bad things). Meanwhile Elena nursed a dying Damian, which culminated in a long over due kiss, just in time for Katherine to arrive with the cure and tell Elena €˜it€™s okay to love them both, I did€™. And Jeremy, well he€™s being haunted be his dead girlfriends. The season closed with the usually brooding and human friendly Stefan ripping a young girl€™s throat out. Can't wait to watch season 3, check out the trailer below. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tlw4wsKPBwQ The Vampire Diaries returns Thursday, 15th September, at 8/7c on The CW (US) and follows on ITV 2 (UK)