Ian Somerhalder says battling Vampires in Netflix Series V Wars was ‘Really Scary!’

Ian Somerhalder is back on screen with another vampire-themed series V Wars. However, this time the Vampire Diaries star is hunting the vampires instead. Netflix’s V Wars just released its first season on Thursday.

Ian Somerhalder discussed the differences between the vampires in V Wars and Vampire Diaries with TV Line. “They’re not hundreds of years old, they’re weeks old, so there’s no historical aspect.” Ian Somerhalder also said that while there are many different types of vampires on V Wars, they all have one thing in common. “Most of these creatures are really f–ing scary.”

V Wars is based on the comics by Jonathan Maberry. The show stars Ian Somerhalder as Dr. Luther Swann, a scientist whose best friend is mutated into a blood-sucking vampire by a fast-spreading virus.

Ian added that the scientific aspect of the show makes it more grounded than other vampire-themed shows. “It deals with the things we’re dealing with in our own world right now: borders, racism, disease, fear, politics — the politics of fear,” he explains. “These things aren’t just happening in our echo chambers, they’re happening around the world. And [the vampire virus] comes about as a result of rampant glacial deterioration. Ice is melting and exposing pathogens, viruses and bacteria that could make the bubonic plague look like a chickenpox party.”

Besides Ian, V Wars stars Peter Outerbridge, Laura Vandervoort, Kyle Breitkopf, Jacky Lai, and Kimberly-Sue Murray.

Ian Somerhalder talks V Wars and  Vampire Diaries

Comparing his role in V Wars to Damon Salvatore, Ian Somerhalder said, “Getting to play Damon Salvatore [on The Vampire Diaries] was the coolest thing in the world. That was one of the best-written characters on television, and I mean that in all humility. It wasn’t about my performance, it was what was on the page, and I just worked my ass off trying to bring that to life. Coming out of that, I really wanted to play a character that’s just a normal f–ing awesome dude. To me, good husbands, great parents, scientists — those are superheroes, because of their dedication, authenticity and integrity. Luther’s a good, normal dude. But people don’t want an ordinary hero. They want an extraordinary hero. So the metamorphosis he goes through in a 10-episode arc is substantial.”

ALSO READ: The Trailer For Ian Somerhalder’s Netflix Series V Wars Has Just Been Released