HBO is reportedly taking another bite into theTrue Bloodfranchise. According to a new report from TVLine, the cabler has begun development on a new iteration of the vampire drama series.Riverdalecreator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa will co-write the pilot with AMC’sNOS4A2creator Jami O’Brien, with the two also serving as executive produces alongside original series developer Alan Ball. As of now, HBO has declined to confirm or deny the report.
While this news hasn’t yet been officially confirmed byHBO, it would appear to be in line with Aguirre-Sacasa’s duties at Warner Bros. He was previously tapped by the studio to reboot a new version ofPretty Little Liarsfor HBO Max, introducing new characters and storylines but setting the new show in the same universe. It’s not yet clear if Aguirre-Sacasa’s reportedTrue Bloodreboot will take a similar approach by bringing new characters into the old show’s same vampire-filled world.
True Bloodis based on the novel seriesThe Southern Vampire Mysteriesby author Charlaine Harris. Developed for television byAlan Ball, the HBO version made its debut in 2008. It turned out to be a big hit for the cabler, ultimately running for seven seasons and 80 total episodes. The series was consistently a big winner at awards season as well, which includes an Emmy win for Outstanding Casting for a Drama at the Primetime Emmy Awards. Lead stars Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer have also been honored for their performances at the Satellite Awards and the Saturn Awards.
The show revolves primarily aroundSookie Stackhouse(Paquin), a telepathic waitress living in the town ofBon Temps, Louisiana. It is set in a world where a synthetic blood product called “Tru Blood” has allowed for vampires to come out of hiding and live alongside humans. Sookie’s life completely changes when she meets and falls in love with 173-year old vampire Bill Compton (Moyer) with their relationship playing out with many turns over the source of the show’s seven seasons.
Along with Paquin and Moyer, theTrue Bloodensemble cast featured Sam Trammell, Ryan Kwanten, Rutina Wesley, Chris Bauer,Nelsan Ellis, who sadly passed away, Jim Parrack, Deborah Ann Woll, and Carrie Preston. Alexander Skarsgard is also heavily featured as vampire Eric Northman, who develops a relationship of his own with Sookie and serves as a rival for Bill.True Bloodwas also known for bringing in several guest stars including Christopher Meloni, Robert Patrick, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, and Lizzy Caplan.
Because the ending of the originalTrue Bloodseries seems rather definitive, it’s more likely than not that we won’t be seeing the same characters appearing in new storylines. Whether it’s a new take on these characters or a spinoff series set elsewhere in theTrue Bloodworld, one thing that would certainly make a lot of fans happy would be bringing back the same theme song for the HBO show. Without any official confirmation from HBO, there’s no word yet on when the new series might go into production. This news comes to us fromTVLine.
