We're still a few months away from the June 16 premiere of HBO's 'True Blood' season 6, but that hasn't stopped the rumor mill from kicking into overdrive regarding which fan-favorite characters might bite the big one this year. The latest rumors suggest that 'True Blood' season 6 will in fact kill off one of its central stars, but what does series regular Joe Manganiello (Alcide) have to say about the gossip? Get the latest on 'True Blood' season 6 inside!

'True Blood's fifth season finale "Save Yourself" left several characters in some major peril, an especially daunting thought as the show prepares to premiere its sixth season on June 16. Via TVLine, we've learned that the latest rumors going around predict a dire end for fan-favorite character Eric Northman, as portrayed by Alexander Skarsgard from the very first season.

Though it would be too early to learn anything for sure, series star Joe Manganiello (Alcide Herveaux) apparently told TVLine “We’re getting to the point in the season now where people are starting to die. The table reads are starting to get smaller, and I’m sure they will continue to do that.” Not only that, but the season's seventh episode bears the ominous title "The Funeral." Guess we know what's playing over the credits!

Elsewhere, Manganiello also teased his own character's upcoming arc, saying “I think [the producers] looked at some things that went on with Alcide last season, and thought, ‘How can we top that or how can we get even racier?’ And I think they’ve succeeded… Right out of the gate, it’s really juicy.”

Along with the recent show-runner swap changing from Mark Hudis to Bryan Buckner, season 5 guest star and former ‘Last Resort’ star Robert Patrick has been upgraded to series regular, while ‘True Blood’ season 6 also features the return of Anna Camp's Sarah Newlin Luke Grimes as the “Jim Morrison of vampires,” ‘House‘s Karolina Wydra, Rutger Hauer as mysterious vampire Macklyn, ‘Rubicon’s’ Arliss Howard as  Louisiana Governor Truman Burrell, and ‘Eastenders’ star Robert Kazinsky as a series regular and new Fae love interest to Sookie.

Few other details are available on the sixth season of HBO’s fang-banging hit, though it’s known that ‘True Blood’ season 6 will take place over 10 episodes, down from the usual 12, largely to accommodate series star Anna Paquin’s pregnancy with co-star Stephen Moyer.

What say you? Do you think 'True Blood' is poised to kill off some major characters this year? Who would you like to see go? Watch the latest preview below and give us your picks in the comments!

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