NARDUCCI: I promise you that absolutely you will. We have Kol and Rebekah for about half of the season. We have 13 episodes, so you can expect them to be in at least six. They’ve been in two already, and they’re going to be in more.
Without knowing whether or not the show would be back for Season 5, how difficult was it for you to decide to leave The Originals, as the showrunner, at the end of this season? Was that something that you had to think a lot about?
NARDUCCI: Yeah. It’s kind of a personal question, but I will say that it was very difficult. I love Julie [Plec]. I love our staff of writers, I’m very close with them, and I admire them greatly. I think it’s because I love and respect everybody so much that I felt like I could leave and I would sleep well because I know these characters that I love so much are in great hands. But it was a situation where I had been on the show and done four seasons, and I got a great opportunity to go somewhere else. I thought a lot about my own family and creatively where I am, and I thought this was an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up. I really do love The Originals. I’m very proud of the stories we’ve told, over the course of these four seasons. I think the actors are tremendous. I think our crew is, without question, the best I’ve worked with. As I’m struggling to find the words as I talk to you, it was a very emotional choice and a very difficult choice, but I’m happy with the way things turned out and I’m really excited. I was able to write the finale knowing that it was going to be my last episode of the show, and with the help of our writers, our crew and our cast, I think we created a game-changing episode. If it’s the last episode of the season or the last episode of the series, for me, it’s my last episode and I’m proud of it.
Inside The Episode
Sneak Peek 2
Sneak Peek
SAVING HOPE – Desperate to save her daughter, Hayley (Phoebe Tonkin) turns to Marcel (Charles Michael Davis) for help uncovering information about the mysterious force that has set its sights on the children of New Orleans. While Klaus (Joseph Morgan) remains behind with Hope (guest star Summer Fontana), Elijah (Daniel Gillies) and a reluctant Vincent (Yusuf Gatewood) join the hunt, which puts them on a dangerous collision course with an unlikely new threat. Finally, Freya (Riley Voelkel) and Keelin (guest star Christina Moses) must put aside their differences as they embark on a journey that may alter the power dynamic in New Orleans forever. Joseph Morgan directed the episode written by Beau DeMayo & Christopher Hollier (#404). Original airdate 4/7/17.
Extended Promo
Promo