‘Just get some new ideas’: True Blood reboot news sparks complaints from fans of original HBO series

Original series starring Anna Paquin ran for seven series until 2014

A reboot of popular supernatural series True Blood is in early development over at HBO, reports say.

Variety says it has confirmed with sources that original series creator and showrunner Alan Ball is attached to executive produce a new series.

None of the show’s original cast, including Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer, are currently expected to make a return.

Ball enjoyed great success with his True Blood series, based on author Charlaine Harris’s The Southern Vampire Mysteries novels.

The show debuted on HBO in 2008 and ran for seven seasons, concluding in 2014.

Set in a world where vampires can live among humans thanks to the invention of a synthetic blood substitute, the show followed telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse (Paquin) and her adventures with vampires Bill Compton (Moyer) and Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgård).

The show also featured a number of other supernatural creatures, including shapeshifters, werewolves, witches and fairies.

Variety reports that Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa – known for developing the hit series Riverdale for TV – and Jami O’Brien are attached to write the script.

However, not everyone was pleased about the news, with some criticising the ongoing trend to “reboot” old series rather than create something original.

“The original one isn’t even cold in its grave,” one fan complained.

TV writer Mollie Goodfellow tweeted: “I cannot stress how much you could just make a new show.”

“Why? It was fine the way it was. HBO, get some new ideas,” another said.

One Twitter user said of the news: “I don’t understand why when people have so much time on their hands that they can’t tap into some creativity. Because they really never had any to begin with since the only ‘ideas’ are of REDOING s***. Over and over again.”

Many commented on the difficulties the new showrunners will face in trying to match up to the original cast.

“I just don’t see how a reboot can ever match the magic of Alexander Skarsgard as Eric Northman,” another pointed out.

Casting for the series has yet to be announced.