For Homeland fans, nothing is worse than this time of year.

Having to deal with the show's offseason is a bitter reminder that, yes, real life exists -- and it certainly isn't as exciting as what's portrayed on Showtime's hit series. Homeland brings endless amounts of intrigue, shock and drama to fans each fall. According to the Epoch Times, season 4 will go into production in May. After the shocking moments of the third season finally start to wear off, what could possibly be in store for season 4? Will any other major characters bite the dust? And could season 4 be Homeland's swan song?

With so many questions and very little answers, Homeland fans have to savor any little bit of information. Thanfully series creator Alex Gansa is open to talking. He told Vulture in December that Season 4 is akin to whole new beginning.

"I think there's no doubt that the show has to be reinvented, on some level," said Gansa. "We don't have the central relationship that was so important for the first three seasons. But I think we have a lot of fantastic characters up and running, and we will clearly dial them into the show in one way or another."

How much reinvention are we talking here? If you haven't watched season 4, don't read any further. You just may find out that Carrie's pregnant with Brody's baby, or that Brody's now dead, or even about Saul no longer working for the CIA.

Gansa continued by saying that the ending for Season 3 wasn't going to close the book on Saul and Carrie's close bond.

"Carrie and Saul's paths could easily, easily cross again. Some people found that mentor-mentee relationship was more important than these star-crossed lovers. We tried to cater to both those ideas," he added.

Zap2It was able to get Homeland Executive Producer Howard Gordon to talk to them at the TCA 2014 winter press tour. Howard added that fans will still feel at home despite the show primarily relocating to Istanbul, Turkey where Carrie has been promoted to Station Chief.

"Obviously it's going to require a fair bit of reinvention, but [showrunner] Alex [Gansa] and his team are inheriting a lot of players still on the board, most notably Carrie," Gordon said.

"I mean, we always conceived of the show really early as the axis of Carrie and Saul; [it] is so powerful, and those characters have so much more in them," he added.

Are you excited for the refreshed Homeland? Let us know in the comments section below.