Renewed: True Blood

HBO has renewed True Blood for a fifth season -and why wouldn’t you?

The series is a hit with audiences and critics, averaging 12.6 million viewers in its 4th season.

The supernatural vampire series will goes into production on 12 episodes later this year and will debut in 2012.

The announcement was not a surprise, with creator and executive producer Alan Ball telling reporters that he “[doesn’t] have any desire to leave because I’m having more fun than I’ve ever had in my life.” He also said the new season will look at the origins of at least one of the vampires as well as larger mythology.

Meanwhile he is also developing a new series for HBO’s sister network, Cinemax.

Banshee is set in Pennsylvania Amish country and features a mysterious ex-con and martial arts expert. Somehow, the shady figure is able to pose as the small town’s murdered sheriff. While enforcing his own “brand of justice,” he’ll also use the position to “serve his own interests.” The series won’t include any supernatural aspects.

Season 4 of True Blood starts in Australia on Showcase next Thursday.

Source: LATimes