Oct 14, 2016 03:26 PM EDT By Addie Tee, UniversityHerald Reporter

With "The Vampire Diaries" Season 8 release date just around the corner, the excitement is heating up especially for Nina Dobrev's rumored return. According to sources, there are plans to bring back Elena Gilbert to Mystic Falls for the show's final season.

Dobrev left a huge void in "The Vampire Diaries" when she left after Season 6. She was, after all, the show's main protagonist and core element. Now that the supernatural-themed series is coming to an end, fans, as well as executive producer Julie Plec, feel that it's right to have Elena back one last time as a sort of proper send off for the show.

Of course, Elena's return also spells a lot of question regarding her relationship with Damon, played by Dobrev's real-life ex Ian Somerhalder. There have been rumors that Somerhalder's wife, actress Nikki Reed, is against Dobrev's return to the show; however, these claims were never substantiated.

On his part, Somerhalder has an idea on how things could end for Delena in "The Vampire Diaries" Season 8 - and it doesn't seem at all romantic.

"This poor young girl from this tiny town ... she lost everyone she's ever loved, she burned her house down, she's now in a box," Somerhalder told TVLine. "These guys have ruined her life, yet everybody wants her to end up with one of them."

Elena may or may not end up with one of the Salvatore brothers in "The Vampire Diaries" Season 8, but there's a theory that her character might play an important role in saving Damon and Enzo. Based on the official trailer for "The Vampire Diaries" Season 8, Damon and Enzo are out for blood after they encountered a mysterious creature in the vault in the previous season.

As Damon and Enzo gets consumed by evil, Bonnie, Stefan and the rest of the gang try to find a way to bring back the good in them. Elena is said to be Damon's anchor to his humanity - that one person who can really dig deep into Damon's soul and switch back his senses.

For now, there has been no confirmation as to whether Dobrev is reprising her role in the "The Vampire Diaries" Season 8. CW president Mark Pedowitz said that there are "discussions going on" with the actress.

"We'd love to have Nina back. She was great for The CW. She was integral for 'The Vampire Diaries,'" Pedowitz said, as quoted by TVLine.

"The Vampire Diaries" Season 8 premieres on Oct. 21 on The CW.

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