Alan Ball Is Stepping Down As True Blood Showrunner
Breaking
*Insert bloody spit-take here* It’s just been anounced by HBO that True Blood showrunner Alan Ball will no longer be holding that position soon. Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?
HBO gave the Hollywood Reporter the following statement.
When we extended our multiyear 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.
A shock to fans, myself included, to hear the man responsible for bringing Charlaine Harris’ beloved Sookie Stackhouse novels (Southern Vampire Mysteries) to life at the cable network (and making it a huge hit in the process) won’t be involved in the day-to-day anymore.
THR reports that Ball, who also created and wrote Six Feet Under for HBO and wrote American Beauty, is exhausted “and the feeling that the series ‘had tired’ last season. Here’s what he had to say:
“True Blood has been, and will continue to be, a highlight of not only my career but my life,” Ball said 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.”
THR also writes, “In addition to Banshee, Ball also has Wichita, an hour-long medical drama in development at HBO about a Kansas surgeon who inadvertently becomes the focal point of a contemporary political, cultural and ethical war surrounding late-term abortions.”
What do you think of the news? Do you think the show will be hurt by Ball stepping down from such a major role?
(via The Hollywood Reporter)
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