Even though The Vampire Diaries hasn’t aired yet, already the promo has been released for next week’s “The Originals” episode which launches the spinoff!

The promo has been posted on the official The Vampire Diaries Facebook page. Check it out:

It shows Katherine telling the brothers that Klaus is gone… and then we get our epic look at Klaus arriving in New Orleans. Let the good times roll, the promo announces, because the original vampire returns home.

“Welcome to the dark side of New Orleans, where the living are easily lost and the dead stick around the play,” a mysterious bad guy (who we hope sticks around!) announces.

We meet Klaus’ former protegé Marcel (Charles Michael Davis), who embraces Klaus like a brother, and calls him, “my mentor, my saviour, my sire.”

But Klaus isn’t happy. “Marcel has got everything I ever wanted,” he says. “Power, loyalty, family. I want what he has.” Uh-oh – is Klaus going to take on the role of the bad guy in this new show, too?

We also see quick shots of the rest of the main characters: Hayley (Phoebe Tonkin), Cami (Leah Pipes), Rebekah (Claire Holt) and Elijah (Daniel Gillies), as well as the witches Sophie (Daniella Pineda) and Davina (Danielle Campbell).

“I wanna be king,” Klaus states ominously… and if this spinoff is picked up by The CW, come this fall he will be (at least of his time slot)!

The Vampire Diaries 4×20 “The Originals” airs next Thursday, April 25 at 8/7c on The CW. Don’t forget to tune in and boost those all-important ratings!