When Us Weekly broke the news that Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder had decided to end their three-year romance earlier this spring, a source close to the couple said that the Vampire Diaries costars would "continue to work together and remain best friends" when production began on Season 5 of the supernatural CW smash. The exes proved they're still on good terms — and even joked about being single — when they attended Comic-Con in San Diego, Calif., on Saturday, July 20.
Dobrev, 24, and Somerhalder, 34, joined costars Kat Graham, 23, Paul Wesley, 30, and Candice Accola, 26, for a panel and Q&A with fans. While discussing one of the characters she plays, Dobrev jokingly asked the crowd, "Is there anyone Elena hasn't made out with?" After an audience member asked her to kiss him, Somerhalder quipped, "Give me your number. I'll set you up."
PHOTOS: Nina Dobrev's stunning red carpet style
As far as their characters go, Somerhalder said "the interaction between Damon and Elena is really cute" in future episodes. When he learned that their characters would finally be a couple at the end of Season 4, "I thought they were joking," he admitted. "Damon never gets the girl."
Wesley then teased his costar, saying, "Don't underplay your sexy blue eyes! Don't downplay the Smolderholder!"
During a separate chat with Entertainment Weekly, Dobrev sandwiched herself between Somerhalder and Wesley. "It's been a fun summer for Elena and Damon," the actress said of what's in store Season 5. "Elena's going to college now, so they're going to try to make the long distance thing work."
Both Dobrev and Somerhalder have remained single since their spring split. In early July, Somerhalder was falsley linked to supermodel Ana Beatriz Barros after they teamed up for an Azzaro fashion campaign.
"She is my friend and a special one at that," Somerhalder explained in an Instagram caption. "This lovely lady has a kick-ass boyfriend [Karim El Chiaty] — not me."