Alan Ball in Negotiations for Fifth True Blood Season

Alan Ball has revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that he's discussing a deal to continue as True Blood showrunner for the series' fifth season — but what happens after that is anybody's guess.

"I don't know if I have any left in me after that. We'll see," he says.

Watch the first six minutes of True Blood Season 4

That is not to say that the show is going anywhere — instead the implication is that it could go on without Ball. As he told Rolling Stone recently, "There could be a future where I step back and the show would continue." He says he could see the show "going a few more seasons," but probably not riding out the complete arc of Charlaine Harris' 13-book Sookie Stackhouse series on which the show is based.

VIDEO: The cast of True Blood have a quick fix for your "TBW"

True Blood Season 4 premieres Sunday at 9/8c on HBO. Ball describes the shoot as having been "really tough" and says he's ready for a vacation.