IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

Rutger Hauer spills on 'True Blood's' new big bad

The fairy tale is over for the fairies on "True Blood." More about Rutger Hauer's mysterious new character has been revealed -- he's Sookie and Jason's grandfather and fairy king Niall -- but he's not exactly delivering good news. There might be another reason Bad Things happen whenever Niall's around. Ever since his casting, rumors have swirled that he is in fact M. Warlow, the powerful vampire w
Image: Rutger Hauer
Rutger Hauer plays fairy royalty Niall on \"True Blood\" this season.John P. Johnson / HBO
Image: Rutger Hauer
Rutger Hauer plays fairy royalty Niall on \"True Blood\" this season.Today

The fairy tale is over for the fairies on "True Blood." More about Rutger Hauer's mysterious new character has been revealed -- he's Sookie and Jason's grandfather and fairy king Niall -- but he's not exactly delivering good news.

There might be another reason Bad Things happen whenever Niall's around. Ever since his casting, rumors have swirled that he is in fact M. Warlow, the powerful vampire who murdered Sookie's parents and is now tracking her and her fae friends. The reports seemed to be confirmed by IMDb, which credits him with the dual roles: Niall Brigant and Macklyn Warlow.

When TODAY.com questioned the legendary "Blade Runner" star about his double identity, he refused to confirm -- or deny -- the rumors.

"That's how it started, and at that point they said it was a misunderstanding. It was a misunderstanding that was created -- but OK, who am I to say? Because I didn't know what I was doing. I signed on blind."

One thing is indisputable: Niall is the King of the Fairies, declaring that his mission is to hunt down Warlow -- to whom Sookie, as the first fae-bearing Stackhouse, was promised in an ancient contract -- and save her and her kind.

"Niall is showing up because the last of the fairies are in the wrong corner," Hauer explained. "And Sookie needs to know something that I can tell her. I can show her something that she doesn't know, and it will help her in the end. It will save her if she loses her life. But then there's all kinds of spins happening after that, that kind of make that go away a little bit."

Although Warlow makes several terrifying appearances in the first three episodes, the Dutch actor warned that his story line will become even more intense.

"(Expect) big things in episode four," he promised.

Rob Kazinsy agreed that the fourth episode is pivotal. As Sookie's new man, fairy Ben, he shares screen time with the iconic actor -- and savored every moment.

"Rutger was probably one of the best things that ever happened to me," raved Kazinsky. "I'm a huge fan. The tears in rain scene (which Hauer famously improvised) in 'Blade Runner' is my favorite scene in pretty much any movie ever. He's an incredible actor. ... We had so much fun."

The feeling is mutual. "We were really rocking," Hauer said about their "True Blood" scenes.

So how evil is Hauer's on-screen persona? "I have no idea," he teased. "I play a character -- I think he's pretty nice, you know. He's grumpy, but he's nice. I think he's got a dangerous side that makes him who he is."

"They wrote it that way a little bit and they cast me," Hauer added, acknowledging his reputation for portraying some of the big screen's scariest villains. "It's pretty clear that I'm going to go there a little bit."

Where do you think Hauer's character is going? Is he the mysterious M. Warlow, or just (cough) Sookie's overprotective gramps? Click on "Talk about it" below and tell us what you think!