"Vampire Diaries" season 6 spoilers reveal Ian Somerhalder is returning to the set - but as a director! The actor who plays Damon on "The Vampire Diaries" will make his directorial debut next spring, following in the footsteps of his co-star, Paul Wesley.

According to TV Line, Ian Somerhalder will make his directorial debut with episode 16 of season 6 on "The Vampire Diaries." The episode is titled "The Downward Spiral."

Ian Somerhalder made the announcement on his Instagram: "Thank you to all involved in the decision-making process for giving me the opportunity to do this. I am so grateful. I'll do my very verry very best not to screw it up."

Along with the caption he posted a photo of the script with his name under the title of director. How exciting!

Ian Somerhalder is not the first of the cast to direct an episode of TVD. Paul Wesley, who plays his brother Stefan on the series, has already directed two episodes, Season 5's "Resident Evil" and the upcoming "Woke Up With a Monster," which premieres on January 22, 2015 when "Vampire Diaries" returns from its winter hiatus on the CW.

Meanwhile, Annie Wersching, who played Renee Walker in "24," has been tapped to recur in "The Vampire Diaries" as a "beautiful and strong" woman named Lily, according to TVLine. Also described as "articulate and caustic," Lily has a reputation for protecting the ones she loves at any cost - but who are those loved ones?

We'll have to find out when Lily first makers her appearance in episode 15 next spring!