Bon Temps lovers, get ready to cry bloody tears: "True Blood's" seventh season will be its last.
It was confirmed by TVLine on Tuesday that the upcoming season of the HBO supernatural drama will be its final season. HBO President of Programming Michael Lombardo confirmed the news.
"'True Blood' has been nothing short of a defining show for HBO," Lombardo said in a statement. "Alan Ball took the books by Charlaine Harris, assembled a brilliant cast led by the magnificent Anna Paquin in the role of Sookie Stackhouse, and crafted a show that has taken its many devoted fans on an unforgettable journey."
"Alan passed the baton to Brian Buckner, who led our fantastic writers and crew in crafting a spectacular sixth season, and he will lead us through the seventh and final season of this amazing show," Lombardo continued. "Together with its legions of fans, it will be hard to say goodbye to the residents of Bon Temps, but I look forward to what promises to be a fantastic final chapter of this incredible show."
Showrunner Brian Buckner also shared his bittersweet sentiments on ending the long-running vampire series.
Buckner thanked "the most passionate fans in television" and promised to "do our very best to bring Sookie's story to a close with heart, imagination and, of course, fun."
"True Blood" has been an immensely successful show, and quickly gained modern cult status. The show's season six finale drew in 4.1 million viewers. However, it was down from its season opener, which drew in 4.5 million, and the season five finale, which garnered 5 million viewers.
Season six was one of the show's most shocking season finales, namely due to Eric's apparent demise while sunbathing on a Swedish mountaintop in the nude. According to Entertainment Weekly, Buckner said that while it appeared Eric died in the sunlight due to Warlow's (Rob Kazinksy) death, Eric is not gone from the show for good.
"Well, I did not confirm that he's alive," Buckner said. "Not that I want to create more conversation, because I don't, but to be clear, we're not saying how we're going to use him, we're simply saying that we are using him."
Buckner also told TVGuide what viewers can expect in the seventh, and now final, season.
He hinted that Pam (Kristen Bauer van Straten) may resume a relationship with Tara (Rutina Wesley), and that fans shouldn't expect to see Sam's (Sam Trammell) hybrid baby next season because the show usually takes place within the span of two weeks.
However, Buckner did hint that if season seven is the final season, things will move faster in the storyline. Now that it is confirmed that next season will be the show's last, fans may actually see Sam's baby, as well as other story arcs that would have been dragged out had the show been renewed for multiple seasons.
Amelia Rose Blaire will also be a series regular on season seven. Blaire joined the show last season as Willa Burrell, the governor's daughter and a vampire rights activist. Willa then became a vamp herself.
Buckner also revealed that viewers can expect a Sookie (Anna Paquin) and Alcide (Joe Manganiello) sex scene in season seven, and that Niall (Rutger Hauer) and Sarah Newlin (Anna Camp) may return.
Next season will primarily focus on vampires pairing up with humans to enjoy each other's benefits. The humans will offer vampires sustenance while the vampires offer humans protection from the Hep-V infected vamps.
"True Blood's" 10-episode final season will premiere in summer 2014.