Legacies cast and character guide: Who plays whom in The Originals spinoff set in The Vampire Diaries Universe

It’s not easy following in the footsteps of The Vampire Diaries and The Originals—two beloved supernatural sagas with fanbases that could probably summon spirits just by live-tweeting. But Legacies made its own mark with a spirited cast, a monster-of-the-week format, and a magical boarding school that’s basically Hogwarts with more sarcasm and less adult supervision. Set in Mystic Falls, the series serves as the third chapter in the universe Julie Plec built, but with its own unique blend of heart, humor, and heroic teenagers just trying to make it to graduation without becoming lunch.

At the center of Legacies is Hope Mikaelson, a walking family tree of supernatural chaos, trying to outrun her heritage while finding her place in the world. But it’s not just her show—Legacies thrives on its ensemble, introducing a fresh generation of vampires, witches, werewolves, and whatever-Landon-is-this-week, all navigating adolescence with the added twist of periodic monster attacks and magical identity crises.

And while some familiar faces return to keep the lore alive and the emotional stakes sky-high, the show is largely fueled by its newcomers—most of whom had never set foot in Mystic Falls before. Here's a look at the cast behind the characters who helped Legacies cast its own long, spooky shadow.

New class, new chaos: The students of Salvatore school

Danielle Rose Russell leads the charge as Hope Mikaelson, the universe’s first tribrid (witch, vampire, and werewolf—talk about multitasking). Being the offspring of the scary hybrid and original vampire, Klaus Mikaelson, and Hayley Marshall, she's fierce, guarded, and weighed down by a lineage that could make a therapist cry. However, she is also determined to rewrite her family’s tragic history. Her journey from a grieving daughter to a fearless leader is one of the show's emotional anchors.

Sharing the spotlight is Aria Shahghasemi as Landon Kirby, the mysterious, soft-spoken orphan who turns out to be a bit more than your average Mystic Falls guy. His chemistry with Hope and ever-changing supernatural status (phoenix, anyone?) adds to the intrigue.

Meanwhile, Peyton Alex Smith plays Rafael Waithe, Landon’s foster brother and a newly triggered werewolf trying to keep his humanity intact. Quincy Fouse takes on the role of Milton "MG" Greasley, a lovable vampire who keeps the gang together, along with his best friend, Chris Lee's Caleb Hawkins.

Add to that the drama-prone Saltzman twins—Jenny Boyd as the impulsive and magnetic Lizzie and Kaylee Bryant as the selfless yet secretly complex Josie—and you’ve got yourself a dorm full of lovable disasters.

Legacies of the past: The adults who keep it all (barely) together

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Matt Davis returns as Alaric Saltzman, now less vampire hunter and more magical headmaster (though still very much the overworked dad with a crossbow in the closet). Having raised the Saltzman twins and mentored Hope, Alaric serves as the reluctant backbone of the Salvatore School, balancing PTA meetings with portal cleanups and exorcisms.

Fellow TVD universe alumni pop in too, like Zach Roerig as Matt Donovan, now the town’s sheriff and professional vampire skeptic, and Steven R. McQueen as Jeremy Gilbert, still brooding and still deadly. But even as these legacy characters help root the show in its history, the series never relies on nostalgia alone. Instead, it lets its new cast take the reins—bringing a next-gen charm to an already iconic franchise.

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