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Forbes is reporting that Alana Ball, creator of HBO's True Blood, is stepping down from the show as showrunner. Sources are citing both "exhaustion" and the fact that last summer's season of episodes might have been a bit sub-par. It is not clear when Ball will be leaving this role, but we're assuming that he still had an active role in setting up this year, Season 5, which is still in the middle of shooting.
Ball also currently has a 10-episode order for a new series, which started at HBO but is now being developed for Cinemax, called Banshee, about a master thief who poses as a small town sheriff. So the fact that it might be too much for him to concentrate on both shows could very well be what's taking him away. It's also probably safe to assume that Ball isn't leaving True Blood entirely and will remain on board in a less hands-on role.
Update: HBO has now clarified that Ball is considered the showrunner for Season 5, but his plan is indeed to step out of that role for Season 6 - should HBO renew the series again. (Given it's continued success, that seems likely).
In a statement, HBO said, ""When we extended our multi-year 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. 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."
Source: IGN
Ball also currently has a 10-episode order for a new series, which started at HBO but is now being developed for Cinemax, called Banshee, about a master thief who poses as a small town sheriff. So the fact that it might be too much for him to concentrate on both shows could very well be what's taking him away. It's also probably safe to assume that Ball isn't leaving True Blood entirely and will remain on board in a less hands-on role.
Update: HBO has now clarified that Ball is considered the showrunner for Season 5, but his plan is indeed to step out of that role for Season 6 - should HBO renew the series again. (Given it's continued success, that seems likely).
In a statement, HBO said, ""When we extended our multi-year 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. 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."
Source: IGN