Ball — whose stage work, All That I Will Ever Be, plays New York Theatre Workshop through March 11 — pens the new series and will serve as director and executive producer.
Based on Charlaine Harris' book series "Southern Vampire," the show will take place "in a world in which vampires can buy Japanese-made synthetic blood," according to the trade publication. "Their integration into a small Louisiana town causes quite a stir, and a love story ensues between a vampire and Sookie Stackhouse (Paquin), an innocent waitress who can read people's minds."
Joining Paquin in the cast will be Ryan Kwanten ("Summerland," "Flicka") and Sam Trammell as her brother and boss/restaurant owner, respectively. Trammel appeared on Broadway in Ah, Wilderness! and more recently Off-Broadway in Rope, Kit Marlowe and If Memory Serves.
Paquin — an Academy Award winner for "The Piano" — has appeared Off-Broadway in Paul Weitz's Roulette, Gina Gionfriddo's After Ashley, Neil LaBute's The Distance From Here and on the London stage in Kenneth Lonergan's This Is Our Youth. The actress, known for her work in the "X-Men" films, "The 25th Hour" "Almost Famous," and "Hurlyburly," made her stage debut in Rebecca Gilman's Pulitzer Prize finalist The Glory of Living. She will next be seen in the Lonergan film "Margaret."
Ball previously teamed with HBO on the series "Six Feet Under." He also penned the Academy Award-winning screenplay for "American Beauty."