'Reign' season 4 spoilers, plot news 2016: Mourning Mary to have child with second husband? Queen behind husband's death?

Mary would have another chance at love when "Reign" returns to the small screen.

Despite getting renewed for a fourth season, the fate of "Reign" was on shaky ground, with no definite airdate to hold on to. It was even left off The CW's fall lineup, which worried faithful of the series, as it has always been included in the network's roster of fall releases.

It wasn't until The CW formally announced that it would premiere sometime in 2017 that fans' worries were allayed. Apparently, pushing "Reign" season 4's premiere to a later 2017 date is the logical thing to do than risk pitting it against HBO's widely acclaimed series, "Game of Thrones," which is set to premiere summer of 2017, and lose viewership in the process.

While an official airdate is yet to be announced, the production team behind the series is busy piecing the upcoming season together.

Back in June, it was announced that "Van Helsing" actor Will Kemp would be playing Lord Darnley in "Reign" season 4. According to Deadline, the character is based on the real-life English nobleman who became Mary's (Adelaide Kane) second husband. Kemp is initially booked for three episodes, but the option to extend his stay on the series is standing.

Lord Darnley is actually Mary's first cousin whom she would fall in love with even as she mourns the death of Francis (Toby Regbo), her first love and husband. Lord Darnley would start out charming and warm but would eventually grow arrogant, a trait that could lead to his murder. There are even insinuations that his murder was pre-meditated and that Mary would have a hand in it.

If the plot of "Reign" season 4 would stick true to history, then Mary might bear a child, hers and Lord Darnley's. However, with Lord Darnley being killed within the first year of his marriage to Mary, the child would grow up not knowing him.

This could be when an additional cast member, Adam Croasdell, would come in to play the role of Bothwell. According to history books, the Earl of Bothwell was Mary's third husband who purportedly murdered someone close to Mary. It remains to be seen if this fact would be included in season 4's arc.

TV Line said Croasdell has likewise been booked for three episodes, but like Kemp, his appearance on the series could be extended.

How would Mary's child with Lord Darnley figure into "Reign" season 4's story? Did Mary really plan on killing him? How would Mary's union with Bothwell be?

The answers would be bared when "Reign" season 4 returns in 2017 on The CW.