Ian Somerhalder initially passed on the project several times, having just finished 8 years as vampire Damon Salvatore on CW's Vampire Diaries (2009). Somerhalder decided to read the books the show is based on to help make up his mind. Impressed with the themes of the story, he finally agreed to star.
Nikki Reed (Rachel) has been married to Ian Somerhalder (Dr. Swann) since 2015. Both have also played vampires before, in the Twilight movies and The Vampire Diaries respectively.
Michael Greyeyes (Jimmy Saint) really is a Plains Cree from the Muskeg Lake First Nation in Saskatchewan.
Ian Somerhalder's second major role in a TV show about vampires, the first being Vampire Diaries (2009).