HBO to End Entourage in 2011

Fans of the popular cable television series Entourage got some bittersweet news over the weekend. HBO, the network that airs the comedy-drama, announced that the show would end next summer after 8 seasons. However plans for a movie are in the works.

"The plan right now is we'll finish up this season. We'll do a shorter order for next season — we've talked about 6 [episodes]," said Michael Lombardo, HBO programming president according to TV Guide. "[Creator Doug Ellin]... wants to write a film, but wants to do it if it makes sense for the story... I will expect that within the next couple years [he'll have another show on HBO]. But next summer will definitely be the final season of Entourage."

Similar to Sex in the City, an HBO series turned Hollywood blockbuster, the creators of Entourage think the show has the potential to achieve that success at the box office. Co-executive producer Mark Wahlberg told MTV in June that fans would love a big screen edition of the wild sagas of Vincent Chase and crew. He was confident producers could deliver a "great one."

"We're going to have 6 episodes next year and end with a bang," he said, adding that the movie trailer can open with Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven) and Lloyd (Rex Lee) "waking up together in Vegas not knowing what happened."

Entourage debuted on HBO in July 2004. Fans were immediately drawn to the story of actor Vincent Chase, played by Adrian Grenier, as he made his rise through Hollywood with his childhood friends in tow. Actor Jeremy Piven has won multiple Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award for his role as super agent Ari Gold.

The Emmy Award winning show that depicts the inner workings of the film industry also boasts guest appearances from some of the biggest names in show biz. Matt Damon, Martin Scorsese, Kanye West, Jessica Simpson, Jessica Alba are just a few names to appear on the show as themselves. Even sports superstars like Tom Brady and LeBron James have made cameos on the show.

Entourage is currently in syndication in a host of countries throughout the world.