'Sherlock' season 4 release date, cast news: Cast talks about season 5 plans, spinoff suggestions

"Sherlock" season 4 is only less than a month away, but a lot of fans are already looking forward to a fifth season of the hit crime drama television series.

The cast and the creators of the show recently sat down with Crime Scene magazine to talk about the upcoming season, but they also shared their thoughts on a "Sherlock" season 5 renewal.

Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays the beloved titular character, said that he still would like to play as Sherlock Holmes beyond "Sherlock" season 4 despite "a lot going on" in his life at the moment as an actor.

Fans will remember a few months back that the actor felt that the upcoming season already feels like the "end of an era," leading fans to think "Sherlock" season 5 might not happen.

However, he did emphasize back then that he is not looking to walk away from it anytime soon. The actor reaffirms this commitment in his interview.

"I'm proud of what we've done. But yes, of course, it still maintains a fascination, otherwise I wouldn't come back for more," Cumberbatch said (as seen in the scans shared by Twitter user, SherlocksiPod).

"So it's not just about employment, it's about wanting to do it, and I'm very lucky to be in that position. And also to have a character like this, who I still really want to play," he went on to say.

Martin Freeman, who plays Sherlock's trusty right-hand man and good friend, John Watson, appears to be up for "Sherlock" season 5.

He shares the same philosophy with his co-star, which is sticking with something they genuinely love doing. "I'm having a really good time," the actor said.

Freeman even suggested that an idea for "Sherlock" spinoff born out of last year's Christmas special, "The Abominable Bride," in which their characters were brought to the Victorian era.

"I'd like to do [year] 1066. It would be about how Sherlock and John handled the Norman invasion," the actor suggested.

Their co-star Amanda Abbington, who plays Mary Watson, quipped about a spinoff centered on her character, who was revealed to be a former assassin.

On a more serious note, the actress said that "Sherlock" will be "Sherlock" with Holmes and Watson at the heart of it and Mary not being the "third wheel."

"Sherlock" season 4 premieres with "The Six Thatchers" on New Year's Day, Jan. 1, 2017, at 9 p.m. ET on BBC One. The second episode, "The Lying Detective," airs a week later at the same timeslot while the finale will air Jan. 15 at 7:30 p.m. ET.