True Blood

Original showrunner Alan Ball is set to return as executive producer.

Difficult news today for True Blood fans and beyond, as beloved star Nelsan Ellis has tragically passed away at a young age. The Julliard-trained actor had appeared in everything from The Help to CBS’ Elementary.

Now that any HBO viewer can buy their own streaming package outside a cable subscription, one had to wonder what would become of Amazon Prime’s old deal to host some of the network’s best shows. Sadly, you may have only weeks to catch some of HBO’s best series like The Wire or Six Feet Under, which are leaving Amazon behind.

We’ve long wondered what, if any connection FOX’s Bryan Singer-directed X-Men drama might have to the movie franchise, though the latest dips a bit outside its reality. True Blood alum Stephen Moyer (as well as Rogue one Anna Paquin’s husband) will topline the mutant drama, albeit in a brand-new role.

True Blood may have flown off the rails in later years, but Alan Ball’s other HBO totem Six Feet Under stuck the landing to become one of TV’s best dramas. Here’s hoping he does it again, now that Ball’s next family drama has an official series order at the premium cabler.

No one exactly missed True Blood after the Merlotte’s dumpster-fire of those final few seasons, but believe it or not, Bon Temps may live anew on Broadway. HBO has reportedly begun workshopping a stage version of its former flagship vampire soap, with original creator Alan Ball keeping an eye on things.

When last we heard from Netflix’s proposed Series of Unfortunate Events adaptation, a teaser got the internet buzzing on potential improvements over the Jim Carrey theatrical version. That teaser proved to be fake, though we at last have some real development now that Barry Sonnenfeld and True Blood helmer Mark Hudis have signed on for the Lemony Snicket series.

The CW’s Arrow hasn’t proven quite so forthcoming with its Season 4 plot, though the fourth outing for Oliver Queen and co. has even more fresh blood in store. True Blood alum and Hannibal star Rutina Wesley will recur through Arrow Season 4 in an important role, while Enlisted vet Parker Young will get speedy with Thea Queen this year.

Both Sons of Anarchy and True Blood have gotten far enough in the rear-view mirror that we’re looking ahead to Kurt Sutter’s FX Bastard Executioner on the horizon, but it seems the former two almost had an insanely weird crossover. Not only had True Blood couple Stephen Moyer and Anna Paquin sought roles in the final ride of Sons of Anarchy, but with a much less healthy relationship than real life.

Just yesterday ‘Hannibal’ season 3 served up a hearty appetizer in the form of its first trailer, but it seems Bryan Fuller’s dark and dreamy drama has yet another bloody morsel to offer. ‘True Blood’ star Rutina Wesley will de-fang for an arc as another major ‘Red Dragon’ character, but what’s her connection to ‘The Hobbit’ star Richard Armitage’s Francis Dolarhyde?