‘The Originals’ Season 4 Episode 1 Preview: Gather Up the Killers Photos and Trailer

The Vampire Diaries ends its eight season run on March 10, 2017 and The Originals takes over its Friday night at 8pm ET/PT time slot beginning on March 17th. Season four kicks off with episode one titled ‘Gather Up the Killers’ set five years after the end of season three. Directed by Lance Anderson, season four episode one was written by Michael Russo and Michael Narducci.

The cast of the new season includes Joseph Morgan as Klaus, Daniel Gillies as Elijah, Phoebe Tonkin as Hayley, Riley Voelkel as Freya, Charles Michael Davis as Marcel, Yusuf Gatewood as Vincent, and Summer Fontana as Hope.

The ‘Gather Up the Killers’ Plot: FIVE YEARS LATER — On the fifth anniversary of Klaus’ (Morgan) defeat, Marcel (Davis) is king of the city and welcomes the unsired vampires to New Orleans, only to find they pose an unexpected threat to his rule, leading him to seek counsel from an unlikely source. Meanwhile, as Hayley (Tonkin) closes in on the cure that will allow her to revive Elijah (Gillies) and the slumbering Mikaelsons, she faces a final task that will force her to make a ruthless decision.

The Season Four Plot: Season four of The Originals begins on the fifth anniversary of the Mikaelson family’s greatest defeat. Although Marcel Gerrard (Davis) has ushered in a new era of peace in the French Quarter, an army of unsired vampires has arrived seeking to bargain for the life of Marcel’s infamous captive, the Original hybrid, Klaus (Morgan). Meanwhile, the other Mikaelson siblings remain trapped in an enchanted sleep, with Hayley (Tonkin) working tirelessly to find the means to revive them – while also protecting her daughter, Hope (Fontana).

After a daring rescue, the Mikaelsons are reunited, only to find themselves faced with an even bigger threat: the revival of an ancient evil that has strong ties to their most vulnerable family member. After a devastating attack by this nightmarish entity, the Mikaelsons discover there is only one way to save themselves – they must stand their ground in New Orleans and forge an alliance with the very enemies who hate them most, both Marcel and the leader of the New Orleans witches, Vincent Griffith (Gatewood).

With the city of New Orleans consumed by a seemingly all-powerful cult hellbent on child kidnappings and ghastly rituals, Klaus must face his own inner demons as he struggles to become the father he never had to the child he is only now getting to know. With Hayley and Klaus focused on protecting their daughter, eldest brother Elijah (Gillies) must embrace his most ruthless aspect in order to become the family’s lethal enforcer, putting him at odds with the rest of his family, including the woman he has come to love. And even as the family’s loyalties are called into question, Freya (Voelkel) will embark on her own deadly mission, vowing to destroy anyone who would threaten her siblings – regardless of what she will have to do – or whom she will have to sacrifice.

Ultimately, the Mikaelsons will realize that they now face an enemy even more powerful than themselves, one with intimate knowledge of their family’s greatest weakness. Upon learning the truth – that their evil adversary cannot be killed – the Mikaelson siblings will have no choice but to stand together – even if this is to be their final battle.

The Originals Season 4 episode 1
Joseph Morgan as Klaus and Charles Michael Davis as Marcel in ‘The Originals’ season 4 episode 1 (Photo: Annette Brown © 2017 The CW Network)
The Originals Season 4 Episode 1
Phoebe Tonkin as Hayley (Photo: Annette Brown © 2017 The CW Network)
The Originals Season 4 Episode 1
Charles Michael Davis as Marcel (Photo: Annette Brown © 2017 The CW Network)
The Originals Season 4 episode 1
Joseph Morgan as Klaus (Photo: Annette Brown © 2017 The CW Network)
The Originals Season 4 episode 1
Christina Moses as Keelin (Photo: Annette Brown © 2017 The CW Network)