Check out all of our ongoing coverage of the TCA 2016 Winter Press Tour here. (Not familiar with the TCAs? Read our handy explainer).

This morning, J.J. Abrams spoke to journalists about his new Hulu series 11.22.63 (you can learn more about it and watch the new trailer here), but also was on hand afterwards for all of the journalists’ burning questions about Star Wars (of course), and the future of Person of Interest. The long-running CBS drama has been renewed for a fifth season (Season 4 wrapped in last May) consisting of 13 episodes, and while it hasn’t been confirmed, it seems that this will be the show’s final run. According to Abrams,

“My guess is it is the final season, but the only heartbreak there is how much / how good the story is, how much good story there was to come if it were to continue. But you know, Jonathan [Nolan] and Greg Plageman have done such an amazing job on this show, and I know what the episodes are that they’ve done wrapping it up.”


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Image via CBS

Of course, one fear for fans though is that they might not get to see those episodes if the show were to get cancelled outright (especially since Season 5 is still not officially on the schedule), but Abrams assures viewers that,

“We don’t yet have a schedule, but I know that [fans] will see the light of day and see these episodes. I know the power of that story, [and] again, to have a show that goes on as many years as that has … it’s a miracle to get a show on the air, and to have it last that long is something we should be grateful for. But, I do love that show!”

Of course, in this current TV climate of shows being picked up by streaming outlets once they come to a close on broadcast, are there hopes for Person of Interest to live on elsewhere? Abrams said that while those questions may be addressed at some point, for now, there aren’t any current plans for that to happen.

As for one of his newest projects, the HBO series Westworld, Abrams says it will be ready for this summer, but that it’s still being worked on. “I was a fan of the original [movie], and I can’t wait for you to see what Johnathan [Nolan] and Lisa [Joy] are doing with this one. It’s something worth waiting for. It’s going to be great.”


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Image via HBO

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Image via HBO