Joseph Morgan has signed aboard The CW's "The Vampire Diaries" to play the pivotal role of vampire supervillain Klaus, according to Deadline.

Beating out more than 100 actors for the part, Morgan has played supporting roles in Oliver Stone's "Alexander" and Peter Weir's "Master and Commander." Currently, he is appearing in the "Immortals" and in the upcoming ABC miniseries "Ben Hur" as the title character.

Klaus, an unseen antagonist in Season 2 up to this point, is known as one of the Originals, which is a family of the world's most elder and powerful vampires.

"The Vampire Diaries" is The CW’s most-watched and highest-rated series among adults 18-34 this season.

Based on the best-selling series of books by L. J. Smith, the series chronicles two vampire brothers obsessed with the same beautiful girl and battling to control the fate of an entire town. In Season 2, the arrival of Katherine, a powerful and devious vampire, throws life in Mystic Falls into chaos as new supernatural threats emerge.

"The Vampire Diaries" is executive produced by Kevin Williamson ("Scream"), Julie Plec ("Kyle XY," "Wasteland"), Leslie Morgenstein ("Gossip Girl," "Private") and Bob Levy ("Gossip Girl," "Privileged"). It stars Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, Ian Somerhalder, Steven R. McQueen, Candice Accola, Zach Roerig, Katerina Graham.