HBO's 'True Blood' going back to its roots

Bill Keveney | USA TODAY

SAN DIEGO — True Blood is going back to basics.

The supernatural HBO drama plans to ratchet back the number of stories and the range of otherworldly creatures to focus on its core strengths, executive producer Brian Buckner told a Comic-Con audience today.

"I feel like this show is ultimately about the relationship between vampires and humans and it's about this town. I want to bring it in a little bit. I feel like at times we've hurt ourselves," Buckner said to applause. "My goal is to get all these people living under the umbrella of one story and one threat ... and make it about this small town we've all come to know and love."

Fans should expect to see some of that change as the current Season 6 (Sunday, 9 p.m. ET/PT) moves toward its end.

"Its going to end awesomely," Buckner said. "I think you're going to feel that the show is going to return to its roots and it's going to feel like it's about a gang of people in Bon Temps. We're going to try to condense the number of stories we are telling and really make this feel like we're coming home."

HBO recently renewed True Blood for a seventh season to premiere in the summer of 2014, with Buckner returning to run the show.

Of course, even a sharpened focus will include all sorts of supernatural creatures, as vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters and faeries all were represented on the panel.

Anna Paquin, who stars as Sookie Stackhouse was there, as were Kristin Bauer van Straten (Pam Swynford de Beaufort), Nelsan Ellis (Lafayette Reynolds), Ryan

Kwanten (Jason Stackhouse), Joe Manganiello (Alcide Herveaux), Sam Trammell (Sam Merlotte), Rutina Wesley (Tara Thornton), Deborah Ann Woll (Jessica Hamby) and newcomer Rob Kazinsky (Ben/Warlow).

The actors who play the two main vampires in Sookie's life, Stephen Moyer (Bill Compton) and Alexander Skarsgard (Eric Northman) were not there.

Paquin says a TV show allows a character to evolve over time and Sookie, who's even had her parents try to kill her, has developed more of a backbone.

"She's not being anyone's doormat. She's sick of taking whatever from whomever," she said. "She's more independent, strong and tough. I feel like she's actually finally learning from all the incredibly, odd, bizarre and unfortunate stuff that's happened to her."