Alan Ball signs new HBO deal, talks TRUE BLOOD season 5

Alan Ball has signed a new deal with HBO, which means that he will not be leaving the hit show True Blood anytime soon. Ball revealed the news during todays summer Television Critics Association presentation. THR reports that the deal is exclusive to HBO and that he has a "couple of pilots" in the works, Ball had this to say about the deal:

“There will be an end for me at some point but I just closed a deal to do another season. I don’t have any desire to leave because I’m having more fun than I ever had in my life.”

At this time, HBO has yet to announce the shows renewal. This news makes a fifth-season is highly likely. Ball told The Hollywood Reporter in June that he was negotiating for a new contract for a fifth season but was unclear what his status would be afterward.

Ball went on to talk a bit about the fifth season, revealing that the writers of the show were breaking stories for  Season 5, including “how a vampire is made.” “We’re creating new characters for Season 5,” Ball said. The showrunner added that actors who have been involved in other vampire works played no part when it came to casting.

As a huge fan of this show, I am very happy to hear this news. I love the cast and the characters and Ball is the only person who could do this material justice. What are your thoughts on this news?