True Blood will be losing one of its oldest vampires as series creator Alan Ball steps down for Season 5.

Ball stated:

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.

Ball is headed to HBO sister network Cinemax to head up Banshee, a show about an ex-con posing as a sheriff in Banshee, Pennsylvania…which happens to be Amish country.

Ball has a solid track record with credits including a Best Original Screenplay Oscar forAmerican Beauty and an Emmy for Six Feet Under.

True Blood Season 5 will introduce Law & Order: SVU alum Christopher Meloni to the cast, and based on the Season 5 teaser, it looks like Ball has left True Blood in good hands:

 True Blood returns with Season 5 this summer.