For those Merlin fans still hoping for a movie continuing the story as we know it, don’t hold your breath – reboot movies are much more likely!

Digital Spy has released an interview with Merlin showrunner Julian Murphy, in which he talks about the role of some of the characters in this current season, and also addresses the possibility of movies within the same universe as the show.

A few months ago, the Merlin showrunners attended the San Diego Comic-Con, and spoke at length about the possibility of the BBC series continuing in movie form after its conclusion on TV.

Murphy and co-creator Johnny Capps spoke then about a potential movie trilogy, although at the time they had not yet decided whether it could be a continuation of the story the series has set up (which would presumably have the same actors), or reboot movies that would go back and tackle the legends anew or show other parts of the story (these would likely see the roles re-cast).

In this interview – which was done before the announcement that this is to be the final season of Merlin – Murphy brings up the movie idea again, but this time he is very adamant about any movies they may or may not make being reboots.

He says, “There is definitely ongoing talk and work on a movie, that’s true. Will it to some extent be a reboot? Yes, inevitably – any movie would be.” As far as it having the same actors as the show or not, he says that, “it’s miles too early to tell.”

However, since yesterday’s announcement that Capps and Murphy were leaving the production company behind Merlin, Shine TV, to start their own company, it seems more likely that with anything, we’d get new TV show spin-offs (without the showrunners’ involvement).

And considering the way the cast have been responding to the news that Merlin is about to end, it doesn’t seem like they are expecting to be called back to reprise their roles, either.

What do you think? Is there still hope for a movie, or should we just say our goodbyes now and prepare ourselves for the end?

The final episode of Merlin will air in just over a month, on December 29.