Will Fringe take us back to 2036? Will we see William Bell again? What about Seth Gabel as Lincoln Lee?

During a conference call with reporters yesterday, producers Joel Wyman and Jeff Pinkner touched on these topics and more, teasing both the upcoming finale and Fringe season five... without giving away too much, of course.

Will the series return to 2036? Most likely, said Pinker: “That future is important to our storytelling, but it’s the not the be all and end all.”

Be sure you are familiar with last Friday's "Letters of Transit." It holds the key to the thematic issues Wyman and Pinkner hope to tell to close out the drama.

Leonard Nimoy has to return as William Bell... right? “We basically erected a sign outside of Leonard’s house that says, ‘Please come back to Fringe,’ and we are hoping that by Season 5 he says yes," Pinker said.

Is the ultimate villain on the way? What, is David Robert Jones "not bad enough," the producers joked/asked.

Have we see the Alternates for the final time? Not necessarily, Pinkner teased: "If our team can somehow dispense with Jones, there is absolutely a possibility of that door being open again.”

Fringe airs its penultimate season four episode tomorrow night. Return to TV Fanatic soon after it concludes for our weekly review.

Carissa Pavlica is the managing editor and a staff writer and critic for TV Fanatic. She's a member of the Critic's Choice Association, enjoys mentoring writers, conversing with cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of television and film with anyone who will listen. Follow her on X and email her here at TV Fanatic.