I’m not sure how I feel about this bit of news as a True Blood fan (first hooked on the Charlaine Harris books, then the HBO series). It was just announced Alan Ball will be leaving the series as showrunner after this season (#5).
I haven’t always agreed with the storylines because I’d hoped the show would remain more faithful to the source material than it has (Bill as Eric’s superior? Never!), but Ball’s guiding hand has at least kept the series faithful in tone to Harris’ novels. It’ll be interesting to see, if HBO renews it for season 6, what direction the series will go in 2013.
Statement from HBO:
“When we extended our overall deal with Alan Ball in July 2011, we always intended that if we proceeded to True Blood’s sixth season that Alan would take a supervisory role on the series and not be the day-to-day showrunner. If we proceed to season six, the show will remain in the very capable hands of the talented team of writers and producers who have been with the show for a number of years. This is the best possible world for both HBO and Alan Ball. Alan will remain available as executive producer to consult and advise on True Blood and he will be free to develop new shows for both HBO and Cinemax.
Banshee, on which Alan serves as executive producer, is the first in-house series for Cinemax and is expected to begin production this spring.”
Statement from Alan Ball:
“True Blood has been, and will continue to be, a highlight of not only my career but my life. Because of the fantastic cast, writers, producers and crew, with whom I have been lucky enough to work these past five years, I know I could step back and the show will continue to thrive as I look forward to new and exciting ventures.”
