If there is a season 6. Alan Ball has been showrunner of True Blood since in premiered on HBO. Now HBO and Ball are both announcing the plan that he will step down as showrunner at the end of the upcoming season 5. It appears to be amicable, and part of an agreement between the man and the cable channel from last July. Here are their statements, starting with HBO:

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.

And here is Alan Ball’s statement:

True Blood has been, and will continue to be, a highlight of not only my career but my life. 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.

True Blood returns for Season 5 Summer 2012 on HBO.

[Source] Deadline