True Blood star Joe Manganiello talked about the “big expansion of my character” in store for the upcoming season of the vampy HBO hit at Duracell’s “Rely on Copper to Go for the Gold” launch event Wednesday night in NYC.

“We’re going to go further than my character went in the books, whatever that means, action-wise, romantically — so there’s a lot of fun stuff,” he revealed, adding with a fist pump, “Go Team USA!” [xx]

HBO just released the season 5 start date of our favorite southern vampire (shifter, were and fae) series True Blood! Waiting may suck but at least we now have an end to our misery in sight!

The 12-episode fifth season of TRUE BLOOD will kick off SUNDAY, JUNE 10 at 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT). Based on the popular Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris, this Emmy®-nominated hit drama series was created by Alan Ball, creator of HBO’s Emmy®-winning series “Six Feet Under.” The show follows waitress and part-faerie Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), who can hear people’s thoughts, vampire Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer) and vampire Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgård).

And let’s not forget our other favorites that will be returning, Joe Manganiello as were Alcide, Sam Trammell as shifter/bartender Sam Merlotte, Kristin Bauer as vampire Pam, Nelsan Ellis as the loveable Lafayette, Carrie Preston as Arlene, Deborah Ann Woll as Jessica, Ryan Kwanten as Jason Stackhouse. We’ll aslo get peeks at fan favorites Tanya Wright as Detective Kenya, Jim Parrack as Hoyt, Todd Lowe as Terry Bellfleur, Janina Gavankar as shifter Luna and Tara Buck as the loyal Ginger.

New this season will be Christopher Meloni as Roman, Camil Luddington as Claudette (Claudine‘s sister). Returning fan favorites are Michael McMillian as Steve Newlin and Denis O’Hare as vampire king Russell Edgington.

The big question is: will Rutina Wesley be back in season 5 to reprise her role as Tara Thornton!?! [xx]