With filming set to begin on True Blood Season 7 next month, the HBO hit is scrambling to fill a role that debuted last season:

According to TV Line sources, Luke Grimes has left the series. The actor premiered last year as James, a brooding vampire who got awfully close to Deborah Ann Woll's Jessica in Vamp Camp.

Without supplying details, a network spokesperson tells the site that "the role of James is being recast due to the creative direction of the character."

An anonymous insider, meanwhile, says Grimes - who will star in Fifty Shades of Grey as Christian's brother - was "disappointed" to discover he would not be sharing many scenes with Woll on the show's final season.

Look for new episodes to kick off in June and be sure to watch True Blood online in order to catch up now.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.