Are the vampires of HBO losing their maker?
Rumors are circulating that Alan Ball, who created the network’s mega-hit True Blood, will be exiting as head writer after this upcoming season. So what did the network have to say about Ball’s possible exit from the show? And what does this mean for Ball’s new show Banshee?
Here’s what we can tell you …
It’s true: True Blood is losing its sire!
“True Blood has been, and will continue to be, a highlight of not only my career but my life,” Ball says in a statement. “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.”
Forbes first reported the news that True Blood, which is currently in production of its fifth season (premiering this summer), will lose Ball as a headwriter. Apparently exhaustion is the reasoning behind Ball leaving the show.
HBO also released a statement regarding Ball’s exit. “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,” the network says. “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.”
There was a rumor last July that Ball was thinking about exciting before True Blood‘s fifth season, but Ball shot that down during True Blood‘s panel at the Television Critics Association press tour. “There will be an end for me at some point, but I just closed a deal to do another season,” he told reporters. “I don’t have any desire to leave because I’m having more fun than I ever had in my life.”
What do you say fangbangers? Think True Blood will be different without Ball behind the wheel?
