Back in season 3, "Homeland" killed off a major character - Damian Lewis' Sgt. Nicholas Brody - much to the shock of fans. In season 5, they did the same thing to Rupert Friend's Peter Quinn.
However, the ending still remained ambiguous. Claire Danes' Carrie Mathison might have pulled off Quinn's lifeline but there is no saying that she did not rush out to get the doctors and tried to revive Quinn the best that she could.
Now, the show's executive producer Howard Gordon told The Hollywood Reporter on Friday at the Television Critics Association's winter press tour that there's a good chance Quinn makes his way back to season 6.
"I will say that Quinn, who is extraordinary... has a good chance of coming back," he said. "The way we're thinking about bringing him back - if he does come back - is really exciting to me personally."
Quinn suffered tremendously in season 5, according to Gordon. Of course, there's the Sarin gas attack and the emotional turmoil he faced just to keep Carrie alive.
But for the producer, Quinn has so much life left to him that it would be a waste for his character to be gone.
"Especially when you're talking about a young man who is so physically vibrant," he said, "we really put him through the ringer."
Meanwhile, Showtime's programming president Gary Levine also refused to acknowledge that Quinn is really dead. However, he did hint that Quinn will no longer be the same again should he make his way to season 6.
"Quinn is severely damaged - there is no question about it. The life or death question remains," he said. "If he should live, it will not be in any way, shape or form the way he has lived to date."
Gordon added that even though he left "Homeland" after its second season, he is still in touch with showrunner and co-creator Alex Gansa everyday. He even wrote and produced an episode last season.
"I'm not out of it, but it's Alex's show - it's his baby. I'm his consigliere that he comes to when he wants to run something by me," he explained.
As for Showtime's CEO David Nevins, he refused to give out any spoilers regarding Quinn.
"I know and have seen exactly as much as you guys have seen," he sai, "and clearly, there is no definitive answer given."
"I have in vague ways (talked about a finale) with Alex," he added. "He tends to attack his seasons one by one. I think that's one of the strengths of show. Needless to say, it's going to be in their control. The good news is, it's not imminent."
