THE creator of “Nip/Tuck,” the hottest cable series of the year, might leave the show.

Ryan Murphy, who – as creator, head writer and director of the drama which airs on FX – is said to be the lifeblood of the popular series about a pair of Miami plastic surgeons, is suddenly a victim of his own success.

“I really don’t know what’s going to happen,” he told The Post.

His dilemma?

Production of the third season of “Nip/Tuck” is slated to begin early next spring, but so is production on “Running With Scissors,” a film he’s writing and directing and which is set to star Julianne Moore, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Brian Cox.

The film, produced by Hollywood heavyweights Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston and Brad Grey is likely to turn Murphy into film icon himself.

“If I don’t go back to the show, then I’ll never do it again,” he says. “We have great writers, the tone of the show has been set. I was obviously involved in every microscopic development of it, but I have no problems or concerns to the think that it can go on and be fine without me. Everybody is replaceable.”

For its part, FX is trying to keep Murphy on its payroll.

“We absolutely intend to have Ryan back,” Peter Liguori, FX’s president told reporters.