True Blood’s Jason Stackhouse Actor On HBO Show’s Legacy

True Blood actor Ryan Kwanten reflects on the legacy of the hit HBO series. Kwanten played Jason Stackhouse in the show, the brother of series lead Sookie Stackhouse, played by actress Anna Paquin. Created by Alan Ball and based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries book series by Charlaine Harris, True Blood ran until season 7 on the network, becoming the most-watched since The Sopranos at the time and winning multiple Golden Globes and Emmy’s throughout its entire run.

Kwanten’s Stackhouse was portrayed as a ladies man at the onset of the show, living a promiscuous, carefree lifestyle until the world of vampires entered his life (and that of his sister). Initially part of a road crew, he eventually becomes a police officer in True Blood, navigating the strange and violent world of vampires, werewolves, and fairies in the town of Bon Temps, Louisiana. Kwanten also had the distinction of appearing in every episode of True Blood, alongside Paquin and Bill Moyer, and Nelsan Ellis.

Speaking to Bleeding Cool, Kwanten had nothing but good things to say about his time on the show. Reflecting back on the legacy of True Blood, the actor explained, “We got seven incredible seasons and I just think that this day and age to get seven seasons from a show is just unheard of,” noting that the show aired at a time when viewers would have to wait week-to-week for the next episode. Kwanten is quick to recognize the impact it had on his professional career as well, saying, “From an in-house standpoint, I loved everyone that I worked with. I still have such incredibly fond memories. I mean that show indelibly changed my life. I have nothing but the sweetest reverence for it.”

In late 2020 it was announced that True Blood would be getting the reboot treatment for the network. The reboot was initially in the hands of Riverdale showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, but the most recent update from HBO signaled that a new True Blood may not be happening at all, as none of the ideas or concepts being developed had come to fruition. Still, Kwanten had his own take on a potential True Blood reboot, saying he doesn’t feel it necessary: “I’m happy to let sleeping dogs lie. After seven seasons, I really felt like personally and I’m sure I can speak for the writers. We took that character in every which way we could.”

Kwanten has since moved on from True Blood, starring in a number of film and TV projects, including The Oath, Sacred Lies, Them, Creepshow, and the recently-released series Expired. The rest of the True Blood cast has all moved on as well, with each of them finding new roles and franchises to carry on the work they began on the show, which was a cultural phenomenon when it debuted. While many fans argued that the show began to wane toward the end and closed out a little too late in the game, most agree that the final True Blood season arrived soon enough to keep its legacy strong. Whether or not a True Blood reboot is necessary is up for debate, but Kwanten and the rest of the cast and crew left a strong act to follow.

Source: Bleeding Cool

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