HBO original series Trueblood comes to India

Media News

Mumbai, June 18, 2009

Suspense, thrills, humour and a hearty dose of synthetic blood come your way as HBO announces the launch of a brand new original series, TRUEBLOOD in India. Golden Globe Award® nominated television drama, TRUEBLOOD, kicks off with the first season on Sunday, 5th July after the 9 PM movie on HBO. Starring newly crowned Golden Globe® winner (for Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama) Anna Paquin and created by Six Feet Under’s Alan Ball, TRUEBLOOD is based on the popular Sookie Stackhouse novels of Charlaine Harris about the tale of Sookie Stackhouse, a perky waitress with telepathic gifts – and an irresistible attraction to a vampire named Bill Compton.

In the not-too-distant future, and thanks to the invention of mass-produced synthetic blood, vampires no longer need humans for their fix and can walk freely, if not yet comfortably, among their living counterparts – though they can still come out only at night. Meanwhile, in the backwoods of Louisiana town in Bon Temps, Sookie works as a waitress at the down-home bar Merlotte’s. Though outwardly normal, she has unusual qualities of her own: Sookie can read minds, which complicates her world in endless ways. But Sookie’s life gets a lot more interesting when Merlotte’s gets its first vampire patron – the 173-year-old Bill – and the two outsiders are immediately drawn to each other.

TRUEBLOOD stars Anna Paquin (The Piano, the X-Men films) as Sookie Stackhouse, Stephen Moyer (The Starter Wife) as Bill Compton. Other cast regulars in TRUEBLOOD include Ryan Kwanten (Summerland) as Sookie’s brother Jason, whose womanizing makes him the prime suspect in a gruesome murder case; and Rutina Wesley (How She Move) as Sookie’s best friend Tara Thornton, whose outspoken ways constantly get her into trouble.

Sam Trammell (Judging Amy) stars as Sookie’s good-hearted boss Sam Merlotte, who carries a torch for her; Nelsan Ellis (The Inside) as Lafayette Reynolds, a cook at Merlotte’s, whose personal life is as colourful as his wardrobe; Chris Bauer (HBO’s The Wire) as Detective Andy Bellefleur; Jim Parrack (Criminal Minds) as Hoyt Fortenberry, one of Jason Stackhouse’s co-workers on a road construction crew; Carrie Preston (Law & Order: Criminal Intent) as Sookie’s fellow waitress Arlene Fowler; Michael Raymond James (Black Snake Moan) as Rene Lenier, another one of Jason’s co-workers; William Sanderson (HBO’s Deadwood) as Sheriff Bud Dearborne; and Alexander Skarsgård (HBO’s Generation Kill) as Eric, a Nordic vampire.

Commenting on the launch of TRUEBLOOD series, Shruti Bajpai, Country Manager, HBO South Asia, expressed, "HBO's legacy of bringing path-breaking original entertainment has immense following in India among die-hard cine buffs. TRUEBLOOD, that takes a new look at the archetypal man-vampire genre of stories, is part of that legacy. That is why it has taken the world by storm be it the US or Asia, and spiraled channel ratings as well. HBO Originals always explore topics beyond the ordinary and with the brilliant story telling that TRUEBLOOD entails, we are confident that it will leave the Indian audiences wanting formore."

Also appearing in TRUEBLOOD are Lois Smith (Hollywoodland) as Sookie’s grandmother Adele, who shares her fascination with vampires; Lizzy Kaplan (Cloverfield) as Amy Burley, the new girl in town who falls for Jason; Lynn Collins (The Number 23) as Dawn Green, a waitress who has an on-again, off-again relationship with Sookie’s brother; Kristin Bauer (Dirty Sexy Money) as Eric’s cohort Pam, who helps run a vampire bar; and Stephen Root (No Country for Old Men) as Eddie, a neophyte vampire.

In addition to creator and executive producer Alan Ball, directors on the series include John Dahl (Rounders), Nick Gomez (The Shield), Anthony Hemingway (HBO’s The Wire), Michael Lehmann (HBO’s Big Love), Daniel Minahan (Grey’s Anatomy), Nancy Oliver (writer, Lars and the Real Girl), Marcos Siega (Veronica Mars) and Scott Winant (Hidden Palms).

A scary, wildly entertaining and bloodcurdling delight, Trueblood premieres on Indian television on Sunday, 5th July only on HBO.

For further information, please contact:

HBO Asia

Shipra Chauhan

Tel: 0124 4028888

E-mail: shipra.chauhan@hboasia.com