So, we don’t have a new episode of The Originals tonight, which is unfortunate. But, we do have a little more detail about what’s ahead in the final episodes – especially concerning Hope and Klaus.
Danielle Rose Russell opened up in a new interview about how Hope’s life and relationship with Klaus is going to change for the remainder of the season.
“I think that’s something that the fans are going to enjoy a lot, this relationship,” she shared with TV Guide. “She gets to explore with her dad now without limits anymore.”
Danielle continues, “They’re kind of getting to know each other still. They haven’t been in each other’s lives very often and Hope really needs her dad. So, they’re kind of getting to know that dynamic and know each other, but it’s really sweet, the dynamic between Hope and Klaus.”
“It ends up being very family-oriented, the show, kind of towards the last… four episodes that we have left,” she notes. “The dynamic between Hope and Klaus being explored in these next couple episodes I think will really bring a lot of warmth to peoples’ hearts.”
Speaking with ET, the 18-year-old star revealed that the newest spinoff will be it’s own show.
“I’m really excited to continue Hope’s story, there is a lot to tell with her and her character. I’ve already read the first episode of Legacies and I love the tone it’s taking,” she shared.
Danielle adds that “Legacies is its own show and it takes on a younger twist to the supernatural world. It’s like an X-Men meets Hogwarts [Harry Potter], a much different vibe than what you’ve seen in both shows.”
She also talked about how Hope will continue to grow in the series.
“She’s very loving and very caring and only wants to do the best she can. But, of course, she’s going to make mistakes along the way, like anyone does — especially when you’re that age,” Danielle says.
“Unfortunately, the consequences of her mistakes have cost her a lot more. There’s a lot to her; there are many different sides to her, and you’ll see whether or not she’s the downfall or savior of New Orleans [on The Originals].”
Legacies will premiere on Thursday, October 25th on The CW.
“She’s definitely in the anger stage right now,” the actress shared with TV Guide. “Her anger obviously manifests itself in very explosive ways.”
And Elijah is in direct view of those explosive ways.
Danielle continues, “When she sees Elijah for the first time, really this entire season, she does end up taking out a lot of how she’s dealing with herself, with her mom and with him too. He didn’t mean to really kill her, but he ultimately ended up being kind of the nail in the coffin.”
“The scene itself is definitely emotional. There’s a lot of anger, there’s a lot of hurt, there’s a lot of betrayal and sadness, on both parts — at each other and within themselves,” she says. “And you see that in the preview, Hope kind of explodes. But it’s very deep-rooted emotion.”
The Originals airs TONIGHT, June 20th @ 9PM ET/PT on The CW.
Danielle Rose Russell talked with TVGuide after the episode, opening up about how this will impact Hope going forward on the series.
“[It's] going to have a massive effect on Hope and the rest of the family,” she shared. “It’s going to disrupt Hope’s kind of self-journey of figuring out who she is, and so she goes through a really drastic change midway through the season.”
EP Jeffrey Lieber added that “for Hope, to lose a parent is horrifying. And especially if you’re of a group of people to whom the death of people you love is not a given.”
“She is the daughter of everlasting creatures, right? Death is both all around her because they are creatures of death and also something that she’s not necessarily prepared for because there’s sort of a given of forever-ness with them.”
He continued, “From a human standpoint, anyone losing a parent just changes them. It forces them to deal with all sorts of things they didn’t think they had to as a child, but also there’s a specific color about this given the nature of her lineage.”
Danielle Rose Russell has had enough with the hatred and body shaming from so-called “fans”.
The Originals actress, who stars as Hope Mikaelson, opened up on her Instagram Stories, addressing the hate that she’s been getting since taking over the role for the final season, and clapping back at those who think it’s okay to judge her body image.
“I will rarely address this, but: it’s extremely upsetting that people are calling me unworthy, a bad actress, or degrading me because I have curves,” Danielle writes. “My petite curves make me differen from a lot of actresses out there, but I don’t like at them as anything less than beautiful.”
I love that fact that I have a curvier body, in fact, my curves make me feel empowered as a woman. It’s extremely saddening that people feel the need to judge me based on my differences from other actresses.”
Danielle continues, “I don’t need to explain myself to anyone, but those who are body shaming me should be ashamed of themselves for calling my unworthy of being an actress, and are only hurting other young women and men who don’t have a body up to your standards.”
“This is bullying and hatred, and I will never stand for that.”
FYI: Lili is wearing an Elkin dress with Chloe Gosselin shoes. Camila is wearing a Missoni dress with a L’Afshar clutch. Elizabeth is wearing Vitor Zerbinato.
50+ pictures inside of CW stars at the event… More Here! »
The 18-year-old actress stars as Hope Marshall-Mikaelson and will continue to on the new series, premiering next year.
“Thank you @TheCW for giving me the chance to continue Hope’s story…we won’t disappoint!” she wrote on Twitter after her first Upfront event this week.
Late last month, Danielle was hoping for the best with the spinoff, telling Teen Vogue that she’d “love to play this character for a long time. I really fell in love with her.”
