Man, vampires are sexy. At least, that was the vibe from the Comic-Con panel for HBO’s upcoming series True Blood (launching Sept. 7). Exec producer Alan Ball and much of the cast, including lead Anna Paquin (pictured with Stephen Moyer), started off by showing a trailer that set up the story for the series, based on the Southern Vampire Mysteries books by Charlaine Harris (who also sat in on the panel): Set in an alternative near-future in which vampires have revealed themselves to humanity after the development of synthetic blood, the story follows Sookie Stackhouse (Paquin), a young waitress in a Louisiana diner who can read everyone’s thoughts — except those of Bill Compton (Moyer), a 130-year-old vampire who enters the diner one night and swiftly seduces Sookie because, for once, she can’t hear his thoughts. He introduces her to the vampire underworld, including a gothic vampire bar called Fangtasia (which, judging from Sookie’s incredulous reaction, is supposed to sound kinda lame). Of course, not everyone’s thrilled with the idea of vampires suddenly running free and wanting equal rights, including Sookie’s mysterious boss Sam (Sam Trammell) and her misogynist brother Jason (Ryan Kwanten), who both looked like they could be brothers, save for Kwanten’s Australian accent.
Once we got into the panel, which played to a packed house in the third-largest venue at Comic-Con, there was some talk from Ball about getting hooked on Harris’ books, and how he wants to "keep the magic as mundane as possible." But after the moderator, EW’s own Lynette Rice (goodness, she was busy!), asked Paquin, Ball, and Harris about how Sookie was, well, "a little sexpot," things quickly turned to sex. And stayed there. In this world, it seems, vampires’ thirst for blood is tied to their sexuality, and there’s a whole subculture of humans who want to horizontal tango with them — "fangbangers," they’re called. "Apparently, sex with vampires is really kind of great," mused Ball. "If you survive," added Harris, causing Ball to note ruefully that "when you have sex with a vampire, it can be very romantic. It doesn’t have to be violent…. I mean, everybody knows that, right?" One character, Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis), has a gay porn website, is a male escort, and sells the hottest drug on the market, vampire blood, apparently so potent it can either be a massive aphrodisiac or, you know, drive you insane. Did I mention this show is on HBO?
Speaking of, one attendant — dressed quite convincingly as Mr.Incredible — asked if there really would be a version of TruBlood, thatfaux beer-like beverage that’s been touted in rather realistic ads by the pay-cable network. "Yes," said Ball with a wicked smile. "It’s V8, valium, vicodin, and Viagra." The crowd roared.
Of course, that other vampires-really-do-live-among-us sensation, Twilight,came up, but both Ball and Harris were very zen about it, saying therewas plenty room in the world for two vampire sagas. Well, with oneaddendum from Harris: "If it came to a Cullen family/Fangtasia staffsmackdown, I think the Fangtasia staff would win." Judging from theirapplause, Harris got no argument from the audience, although that wouldbe pretty fun to watch, wouldn’t it?
I was reading somewhere recently about how Twilight is vampires and “the erotics of abstinence”…whereas this show is most certainly going in, ahem, the other direction. I’ll be there watching.
I’m not familiar with the books this show is based on, but reading this article I conclude that the story is part Twilight and part Moonlight (the excellently written show that CBS decided to inexplicably drop). Identical elements from both of those genres are being used in True Blood. I guess with all the recent surge in vampire popularity, its inevitable that certain vampire-esque ideas will be shared.
This series is going to be great.I have read all the books!
Did this series come before Twilight? Isn’t it a little too coincidental that both have a character that can read everyone’s thoughts except for one person’s and both are about vampires?
Sookie predates Twilight by quite a few years. Both are predated by Laurell K Hamilton’s Anita Blake Series.
I’ve read both series and enjoyed the both. Stephenie Meyer’s books have excellent writing but I find Charlaine Harris’s books more creative. They may sound the same from basic description, both being about vampires but they really are worlds different. I enjoy them both and look forward to every upcoming book.
Yet not one word in this article about someone recieving a fangjob?
I am deeply, deeply disapointed.
After American Beauty and 6 Ft Under, I’m interested in anythng Ball puts out. Nice that Moyer is getting a regular gig too – good actor and very hot. He also did a terrific Brit vampire series with Jack Davenport of Swingtown called ‘Ultraviolet’ (not to be confused with the sucky flick) that was excellent and is worth checking out on DVD … someone should do a US remake of that…
I can’t wait for the show to air. Alan Ball is a talented guy and I’ve long been interested in the Southern Vampire Mystery novels. (Though, I haven’t read them. They’re on my list. I’ll get to them eventually.)
I really love this series of books, but I can’t say that I’ve been impressed by the teasers they’ve been running on HBO. It looks like they’ve decided that Southern means hick-ing up and adding vampires. Charlaine Harris writes with a deep appreciation of the people (and non-humans) of the South. The teasers just make everyone look stupid. I’ll watch the first episodes, but if it does turn out to be “Hillbilly Bloodsuckers”, I’m outa here.
WHAT POSERS!!ok the Cullens would totally kick these wanna-be vampire butts. Its depressing that people are copying stephenie meyer’s work, but then again i guess its a compliment. i cant believe people think this crap is good. They may as well call it plagirsm. so annoying!!!!!
Olivia: First of all, Harris’ series debuted at least a year before Twilight was published, so don’t claim it’s a rip off. Second, both series are aimed at different age groups: Twilight hangs around in the PG-13 group, while the Southern Vampire Mysteries is VERY much an R rating not to mention that the plots are vastly different. Furthermore, Anita Blake, Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles, Hellsing, and Dracula all came before either series and were/are greatly loved. Vampires have been awesome long before Stephenie Meyer and will continue to be awesome long after her books have faded from the public consciousness. And while I really like the Cullens and think that they can kick ass, Sookie Stackhouse’s gang are older and significantly more vicious. So, yeah, they win. And Alucard, from the Hellsing anime would pwn Edward hands down. There are a hell of a lot of fantastic vampire books out there with characters worse than and better than the Cullens clan. Go find them and enjoy.
DizzyIzzy- I couldn’t have said it better myself. Vampires have been in fiction for ages and everyone needs to remember that! Authors come up with the differences but they all have some of the same basics, blood drinking, speed, strength- well you get it. I think it’s ignorant to make comments before trying out the books or researching BEFORE making such a serious accusation as plagiarism. Stephanie Meyer is wonderful and I am eagerly anticipating her 4th and final novel in the Twilight series, however there are other authors like her and have been around longer, Christine Feehan, Laurell K. Hamilton, Charlaine Harris, Amanda Ashley, Keri Arthur, Kathy Love, Lynsay Sands….and the list goes on. Read some you might enjoy the different takes on Vampires. There are wonderful bloodsucking book worlds out there for us all to enjoy.
I watched all the Bloodcopy.com spots on HBOonDemand last night, and I have to say that I am really excited about this show. I tried to read the books last year and could not get into them. Sookie is the emotional equivalent to a thirteen-year-old girl! However, I think Alan Ball will bring out more of the outside world of this universe to get me past it. Also, I would totally sport a “God Hates FANGS” bumper sticker. That gave me a really good chuckle. HBO needs to market that in addition to True Blood stuff.
Harris’ series debuted in 2001. Meyers debuted in 2005. The “Twilight” books are not nearly as good IMO.