True Blood season 4

The fourth season of the television series True Blood contains 12 episodes, bringing the series total to 48. The season premiered on June 26, 2011. Though the storyline picks up twelve and a half months after the events of season three; the season still begins immediately after final scene of "Evil Is Going On". It is loosely based on the fourth novel in The Southern Vampire Mysteries series, Dead to the World.

Production
Filming for season four commenced in Los Angeles, California, on December 1, 2010.

As a special promotional broadcast, the season's second episode "You Smell Like Dinner" was made available on HBO Go a week earlier than usual. This, combined with the 4th of July holiday, is theorized to account for the dramatic decline in ratings for that particular episode.

The series hit record high ratings with episode 9 of season 4, titled "Let's Get Out of Here". The episode drew 5.53 million viewers, making it the most watched episode of True Blood to date.

Main cast

 * Anna Paquin as Sookie Stackhouse
 * Stephen Moyer as Bill Compton
 * Sam Trammell as Sam Merlotte
 * Ryan Kwanten as Jason Stackhouse
 * Rutina Wesley as Tara Thornton
 * Alexander Skarsgård as Eric Northman
 * Kevin Alejandro as Jesus Velasquez
 * Marshall Allman as Tommy Mickens
 * Chris Bauer as Andy Bellefleur
 * Kristin Bauer van Straten as Pamela Swynford De Beaufort
 * Lauren Bowles as Holly Cleary
 * Nelsan Ellis as Lafayette Reynolds
 * Janina Gavankar as Luna Garza
 * Todd Lowe as Terry Bellefleur
 * Joe Manganiello as Alcide Herveaux
 * Jim Parrack as Hoyt Fortenberry
 * Carrie Preston as Arlene Fowler Bellefleur
 * Fiona Shaw as Marnie Stonebrook
 * Jessica Tuck as Nan Flanagan
 * Deborah Ann Woll as Jessica Hamby

Special Guest cast

 * Brit Morgan as Debbie Pelt
 * Lois Smith as Adele Stackhouse
 * Adina Porter as Lettie Mae Daniels
 * Evan Rachel Wood as Sophie-Anne Leclerq
 * Gary Cole as Earl Stackhouse

Recurring cast

 * Dean Chekvala as Roy
 * Fiona Dourif as Casey
 * Paola Turbay as Antonia Gavilán de Logroño
 * Dale Raoul as Maxine Fortenberry
 * Courtney Ford as Portia Bellefleur
 * Vedette Lim as Naomi
 * Brendan McCarthy as Nate
 * Chloe Noelle as Emma Garza
 * Alexandra Breckenridge as Katerina Pelham
 * Nondumiso Tembe as Mavis
 * Tara Buck as Ginger
 * Dane DeHaan as Timbo
 * Alec Gray as Coby Fowler
 * Lindsay Pulsipher as Crystal Norris
 * James Harvey Ward as Felton Norris
 * Laurel Weber as Lisa Fowler
 * Del Zamora as Don Bartolo
 * Chris Butler as Emory
 * J. Smith-Cameron as Melinda Mickens
 * Christina Moore as Susanne McKittrick
 * Lara Pulver as Claudine
 * Chris Coy as Barry Horowitz
 * Scott Foley as Patrick Devins
 * Katherine Helmond as Caroline Bellefleur
 * Neil Hopkins as Claude
 * Allan Hyde as Godric
 * Michael McMillian as Reverend Steve Newlin
 * Michael Raymond-James as Rene Lenier
 * John Rezig as Deputy Kevin Ellis
 * Rebecca Wisocky as Queen Mab

Casting
On November 8, 2010, Deadline reported that Irish stage actress/director Fiona Shaw (best known in the United States for her role as Aunt Petunia in the Harry Potter films) had been cast as Marnie, an insecure and timid palm reader who is possessed by the spirit of a powerful witch. Former Dexter star Courtney Ford has been cast in the recurring role of Portia Bellefleur, sister to Andy. Actor Dane DeHaan (In Treatment) has also been cast as Timbo. On November 23, Deadline reported that actress Jessica Tuck, who portrays vampire spokesperson Nan Flanagan, will be promoted to series regular starting this season. Three new female cast members were announced: Janina Gavankar (The L Word, The Gates) will play a public school teacher named Luna, who is also a shapeshifter; Alexandra Breckenridge (Life Unexpected, Family Guy) will play a wiccan named Katie; and relative newcomer Vedette Lim will play Naomi, a fierce cage fighter. Daniel Buran will play Marcus, the pack master of the Shreveport werewolves and Alcide's superior and, as in the previous season, Allan Hyde will reprise his role as Godric. Gary Cole (Office Space, Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law) will play Earl Stackhouse.