Get scoop on how the Salvatores and Mikaelsons cross paths

Vampire Diaries, Originals to cross over this season

The Originals type TV Show network The CW

The worlds of Mystic Falls and New Orleans will be coming together as The Vampire Diaries and The Originals stage a crossover this season, CW boss Mark Pedowitz announced at the Television Critics Association’s press tour on Sunday.

“You will see, organically, a crossover this year,” Pedowitz said. “Not of the size and scope of we do for Arrow and Flash. They have to make sense [story-wise]. If they don’t make sense story-wise, don’t do it, don’t force it — the audience can tell.”

EW can now reveal how the Salvatores and Mikaelsons will cross paths: “It’s something that we’ve always wanted to do, but never could quite find the organic way to do it,” executive producer Julie Plec tells EW. “We never wanted to force it. The storylines happen to match up in a way that Stefan [Paul Wesley] has to go on the run and seek safe haven, and lo and behold, New Orleans is that safe haven, and who does he come face-to face-with but Klaus Mikaelson. It’s a nice two-episode set of Vampire Diaries-Originals cohabitation. It’s going to be good. I’m excited about it.”

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When the shows return, The Vampire Diaries and The Originals are heading to Friday night. “The move to Friday night is not a move to exile [the shows],” Pedowitz insisted. “It’s a move to strengthen Friday night.”

The Vampire Diaries and The Originals return Friday, Jan. 29 at 8 p.m. ET and 9 p.m. ET, respectively, on The CW.