True Blood Renewed for Season 5

True Blood‘s sexy vampires, shapeshifters, and werewolves will be back for a fifth season as confirmed today by HBO. HBO Programming President Michael Lombardo announced the series will return in the summer of 2012 with 12 new episodes, with production on the fifth season expected to begin later this year in Los Angeles.
 
“I am thrilled that True Blood continues to enjoy a phenomenal reception from both subscribers and critics,” stated Lombardo. “Alan Ball and his gifted team have devised the greatest thrill ride on TV.”
 
Series creator Alan Ball added, “I remain amazed and delighted by the enthusiasm of our viewers. I can’t imagine having more fun than this.”
 
After a rocky start to season four with fairies shooting energy balls on a set that looked straight out of a bad B-movie, the addictive series has once again picked up steam. Recent episodes highlighting the growing relationship between Eric (Alexander Skarsgard) and Sookie (Anna Paquin), as well as the witch storyline with Harry Potter’s Fiona Shaw delivering scene-stealing performances, have helped bring the show back around. The show is based on Charlaine Harris’ bestselling Sookie Stackhouse books but exists in a universe all its own, it’s impossible to tell what direction Ball and company will go with season five.
 
Source: HBO – August 11, 2011