Actor Luke Grimes is leaving the HBO show "True Blood" before its seventh and final season. According to TV Line, Grimes' unexpected departure will force producers to recast the role. The 25-year-old actor joined "True Blood" in Season 6 as Jessica's (Deborah Ann Woll) vampire boyfriend James.
A spokesperson for HBO confirmed the departure saying "The role of James is being recast due to the creative direction of the character." Reps for Grimes declined to comment but sources told TV Line that Grimes was unhappy with his character's storyline in the final season.
"He initially joined the show because he wanted to work with [his 'Forever' co-star] Deborah Ann Woll," the source said. "But when he started reading the script for Season 7, he was disappointed to learn that they were going in a completely different direction with James."
Production for the final season is scheduled to begin next month.
"'True Blood' has been nothing short of a defining show for HBO," Michael Lombardo, president of HBO Programming said in a statement, E! News reports. "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. 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 his incredible show."
Grimes' other TV credits include "Brothers & Sisters" and the FX pilot "Outlaw Country." He also appeared in the movie "Taken 2" and has been cast as Elliot Grey, Christian Grey's (Jamie Dornan) brother in the upcoming film "Fifty Shades of Grey."
