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“True Blood” will be back next summer for a 12-episode fifth season.

HBO made the news official Thursday in a press release, adding that the hit series from Alan Ball will begin production on the new season later this year in L.A. That’s not much of a surprise to the show’s fans, who are currently enjoying the thrill ride being provided by series newcomer Fiona Shaw, who plays Marnie, the rather bumbling Wiccan necromancer who has given her body over to the powerful witch Antonia.

“I remain amazed and delighted by the enthusiasm of our viewers,” Ball said in the HBO press release. “I can’t imagine having more fun than this.”

I wonder who the big bad will be next season amongst the vampires, witches, werewolves, were-panthers, shifters and fairies.

Michael Lombardo, president of HBO programming, echoed fan sentiments about this season, and the show. “Alan Ball and his gifted team have devised the greatest thrill ride on TV,” Lombardo said.

In other “True Blood” news, Sam Trammel, who plays shifter Sam Merlotte on the show, and Missy Yager welcomed twin sons on Aug. 9.

You can read the full renewal release below, and don’t forget to tune into “True Blood” at 8 p.m. Sundays on HBO.

FROM HBO HBO has renewed the hit show TRUE BLOOD for a 12-episode fifth season, it was announced today by Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming. Created by Alan Ball, the series will begin production of new episodes later this year in Los Angeles, with debut set for summer 2012.

“I am thrilled that TRUE BLOOD continues to enjoy a phenomenal reception from both subscribers and critics,” noted Lombardo. “Alan Ball and his gifted team have devised the greatest thrill ride on TV.”

“I remain amazed and delighted by the enthusiasm of our viewers,” says Ball. “I can’t imagine having more fun than this.”

Mixing romance, suspense, mystery and humor, the Emmy-nominated show takes place at a time when vampires have come out of the coffin, and follows the on-and-off romance between waitress and part-faerie Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), who can hear people’s thoughts, and 173-year-old vampire Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer). Series creator Alan Ball (creator of the Emmy-winning HBO series “Six Feet Under”) is also an executive producer of the show, which is based on the bestselling Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris.

The 12-episode fourth season of TRUE BLOOD, which launched June 26, has inspired critical raves, with USA Today calling it “exuberantly entertaining,” as well as hailing the “superb crew of writers and actors,” while the Washington Post called the show “a rollicking good scream” and “addictive.”

TRUE BLOOD recently received four Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series (Alfre Woodard).

Season four credits: TRUE BLOOD was created by Alan Ball; based on the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris; executive producers, Alan Ball, Gregg Fienberg; co-executive producers, Brian Buckner, Mark Hudis, Nancy Oliver, Raelle Tucker, Alexander Woo; co-producer, Christina Jokanovich.