'True Blood' scoop: The search for Alcide begins!

True Blood‘s wolf hunt has officially begun!

Although Alan Ball confirmed to me over the summer that werewolf Alcide would take a big bite out of the drama’s upcoming third season, the search for an actor to play the pivotal part formally got underway today with the release of the following casting notice:

ALCIDE: Good-looking, rough-around-the-edges, articulate, heroic, and decent, but not what he seems. He gets along well with Sookie. There’s even an attraction between the two. Very strong recurring.

True Blood is also searching for a fortysomething African-American actor to play HOLLIS, a bouncer in a bar. Despite his scary appearance — he resembles an NFL lineman — he’s a nice guy who knows Alcide well. He’s suspicious of Sookie and delivers some unexpected bad news to Alcide about his fiancée, Debbie Pelt.

Finally, Alan Ball is on the lookout for an actor in his 70s to play Arlene’s old-school (spoiler alert) obstetrician.

Production on True Blood‘s third season got underway last week, hence all the casting activity of late. I compiled a convenient link round-up below if you missed any of it. I’m generous like that.

Vampire Pam gets a promotion!

Ugly Betty hunk to play Coot

Pushing Daisies alum cast as Talbot

Prison Break alumni are fresh meat

Photo Credit: Prashant Gupta/HBO