Ian Somerhalder, the former star of The Vampire Diaries, has made a bold statement about his decision to leave Hollywood, citing a controversial reason. In an interview, Somerhalder revealed that his experience with the Netflix series V Wars led him to pull the plug on his acting career. He expressed deep dissatisfaction with the show's final product, stating, 'I worked really hard on that show, and I moved my whole family to Ontario, Canada for the job. But the show wasn't even watchable.'
Somerhalder's frustration stemmed from the studio's refusal to give him creative control, despite his and his producing partner's requests. He took matters into his own hands, raising over $6 million to shoot additional footage, but the effort left him hospitalized. Despite the show's success, with it being number one in 103 territories, Somerhalder felt betrayed by the executives' handling of the situation. This incident, he claims, was the turning point that led him to walk away from the industry.
'I said to the studio, 'I don’t want to put my name on this. I’ll give you the money back. I’ll give you millions of dollars,'” Somerhalder recalled. “And the powers that be at Netflix were like, 'It’s unfortunate. Yes, it shouldn’t have happened. We can’t go back, because it would set a precedent that would be terrible, so the show is done.'”
Somerhalder's decision to quit acting was not without consequences. He and his wife, Nikki Reed, ended up in eight-figure debt due to a failed business venture. However, they managed to recover by selling personal belongings and negotiating out of the deal. Despite this setback, Somerhalder has no plans to return to acting, stating, 'I think it’s in the rearview mirror. I do.'
His focus now is on his businesses, including Absorption Company and Brother’s Bond Bourbon, and his family. Somerhalder's story highlights the challenges and power dynamics within the entertainment industry, and his decision to prioritize personal control and autonomy over his career is a bold one. It remains to be seen whether his alternative ventures will provide the fulfillment he seeks, but his decision to leave Hollywood is a testament to his determination to follow his own path.
