'Wentworth Prison' season 5 release date, spoilers news: Bea dead for sure?

A lot of fans have been following the story of Bea Smith (Danielle McCormack) since the first episode of "Wentworth Prison," but the showrunners have confirmed that Bea is dead. Now, Wentworth must find a new leader.

Reports have said that the fifth season of "Wentworth" will not have McCormack returning as the prison's top dog. Bea died in the finale of the fourth season in order to prevent Joan Ferguson (Pamela Rabe) from being released from the prison.

The fifth season will most likely find someone taking over her place as the leader of the inmates. Some speculate that that character will be Ferguson herself, while others report that the position will be contested by Karen "Kaz" Proctor (Tammy Macintosh).

Despite the news that Bea is definitely not returning, rumors are still rife about her appearance in the next season, and that she will continue her romance with Allie Novak (Kate Jenkinson). The fans have lovingly named the Bea and Allie tandem as "Ballie."

In an interview with Curve Mag, McCormack described the relationship between the two as having a mix of maternal love. McCormack said, "[The relationship] was more about [Bea] allowing someone into her heart that she hadn't done for a very long time and we had not been privy to on the show... I think with that Bea and Allie relationship there is a beautiful, maternal quality to it, like a [sisterhood] and being best friends, which exists in a lesbian relationship.

Are the producers of the show willing to close the lid on such a romance with Bea's death? Fans will have to wait awhile longer to figure out what direction "Ballie" will take after the farewell of one of the main characters of the show.

As of now, there are no confirmed dates for the release of the fifth season, but the show is definitely in production.

Fans can expect the fifth season of "Wentworth Prison" to hit sometime next year.