The Originals (TV series)

The Originals is an American fantasy supernatural drama television series that began airing on The CW on October 3, 2013. It is a spin-off of "The Vampire Diaries" and the first television series expansion of the franchise based on its parent series. The series follows vampire-werewolf hybrid Klaus Mikaelson as he and his family become embroiled in the supernatural politics of the French Quarter of New Orleans.
On May 10, 2017, The CW renewed the series for a fifth season. On July 20, 2017, it was announced by series creator Julie Plec ahead of Comic Con that the series' fifth season would be its last. The final season began airing on April 18, 2018, and finished on August 1, 2018.
Series overview.
"The Originals,"based in the character Klaus Mikaelson from The Vampire Diaries (novel series) by L.J. Smith (author)," centers on three of the Mikaelson siblings: Klaus (Joseph Morgan), Elijah (Daniel Gillies), and Rebekah (Claire Holt). The Mikaelson family are also commonly known as "the Originals" due to the fact that they are the first vampires ever to exist. Niklaus "Klaus" Mikaelson is the son of a witch and a werewolf, and his quest to unleash his hybrid nature was detailed in "The Vampire Diaries". The backdoor pilot, which aired on April 25, 2013, also revealed that the werewolf Hayley (Phoebe Tonkin), with whom Klaus had a drunken one-night stand, is pregnant with his child. 
The series begins with the Original siblings returning to the city of New Orleans for the first time since 1919, where a pregnant Hayley has also settled. Having originally built the French Quarter, they had been forced to abandon it when fleeing from their vengeful father, Mikael (Sebastian Roché). In their absence, Klaus's protégé, Marcel (Charles Michael Davis), took charge of the French Quarter. Klaus resolves that they must take down Marcel and get back the city that once belonged to them. While doing that, they must also protect their city from a war brewing between vampires, werewolves, and witches. 
Over time, new and old friendships are formed, love is in the air, death surrounds them, and the Originals learn more about their own family past. 
The first season describes how Klaus's mystical child is going to be born and speaks of the threats that the Originals together must keep her safe from. 
The second season deals with the return of Klaus and his siblings' parents, and the arrival of an aunt who threatens the baby's life. 
The third season shows the Mikaelsons facing both a prophecy that speaks of their downfall and the first generation of non-Original vampires which they sired, who have wanted revenge against the Mikaelsons for nearly a millennium. 
The fourth season jumps ahead five years, with the Mikaelsons returning to New Orleans and having to face a reawakened ancient mystical menace set on destroying anything in its path. 
The fifth and final season of the series takes place seven years after the fourth season, with Hope now being a teenager at a school for supernatural children, the Salvatore Boarding School for the Young and Gifted and the Mikaelsons still having to face the ancient menace from the previous season while trying to re-unite their family once again.
Production.
On January 11, 2013, it was announced that a backdoor pilot focused on the Originals, starring Joseph Morgan as Klaus and titled "The Originals" would air sometime in April for a potential series pick-up for the 2013–2014 season. On April 26, 2013, "The Originals" was confirmed for a full series. This second spin-off attempt will be overseen by Julie Plec, with no involvement by Kevin Williamson. "The Originals" was officially picked up by The CW on April 26, 2013, for the 2013–14 season. Season one of "The Originals" was set to premiere on Tuesday, October 15. However, on July 29, 2013, The CW announced that the series premiere would instead air on October 3, 2013, following the fifth-season premiere of "The Vampire Diaries" in order to attract fans of the series. On October 10, 2013, the CW ordered three additional scripts for the series. On November 11, 2013, the CW decided to order a full season for "The Originals".
Following her March 11 episode Claire Holt left the main cast. Holt confirmed that she would be returning to the show, but that she needed to spend time with her family first.
"The Originals: The Awakening".
In November 2014, a web series titled "The Originals: The Awakening" was released as the fourth show in the franchise. The series explores the character Kol Mikaelson and his relationships with his siblings. Flashing back to 1914, Kol is on a quest to form an alliance with the witches of the French Quarter. Awakening gives answers to some questions about Kol's past, including the origins of his rivalry with his family and the unique backstory he has with the New Orleans witches. Each webisode is approximately two minutes long. The series concluded on December 8, 2014. To date, "The Originals: The Awakening" is the only web series in "The Vampire Diaries" franchise.
Novels.
On January 27, 2015, the first book in a series of novels based on the show was released. "The Rise", "The Loss", and "The Resurrection" make up the three novels in The Originals series written by Julie Plec.
Spin-off.
In August 2017, it was announced that a spin-off focusing on Hope Mikaelson, the daughter of Klaus and Hayley, was in development. Julie Plec, co-creator of "The Vampire Diaries" and creator of "The Originals", wrote the script and is credited with creating the series. In January 2018, it was revealed that filming for the pilot would go into production in the second quarter of 2018. It was announced in March 2018 that the spin-off was in fact ordered to pilot, but instead of a traditional pilot, Plec would be delivering a fifteen-minute pilot presentation of the series to The CW. It was also announced that "The Vampire Diaries" veteran Matt Davis would star in the project along with Aria Shahghasemi, Quincy Fouse, Jenny Boyd, and Kaylee Bryant. Shahghasemi debuted in the fifth season of "The Originals" as Hope's friend Landon.
On May 11, 2018, it was announced that the spin-off, titled "Legacies", was ordered to series for the 2018–19 season. The show centers around "a 17-year-old Hope, along with Alaric's twin daughters, and other young witches, vampires, and werewolves" as they come of age at the Salvatore Boarding School for the Young and Gifted.