A lot of fans who are looking forward to brand new episodes of the highly popular crime drama television series, "Sherlock," were very much excited when BBC announced that they would be airing the show's fourth season on New Year's Day next year. The series, based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "Sherlock Holmes" detective stories, will be returning with brand new cases to be solved by Sherlock Holmes, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, and Doctor John Watson, played by Martin Freeman.

Despite the excitement over the new episodes, several rumor reports have recently appeared online which claimed that the show's fourth season may be its last and that the series was cancelled. Fans, of course, were dismayed with the news seeing as that there was really no good reason for the show to be cancelled. The show itself garnered a lot of positive reviews from fans and critics ever since its first season.

Most of the reports cited statements from the show's titular actor as their basis for their claims, but it seems like all of them might have just taken his words out of context. Following the spread of the cancellation rumors, Cumberbatch himself then quickly slammed the claims stating that he mentioned no such thing and that he only stated that season 4 might just be the "last for now."

As for the new season itself, several spoiler reports have revealed that the new episodes may be re-introducing Irene Adler, played by Lara Pulver, who will apparently have a more crucial role this time around. Reports have revealed that Adler may be the one to save Holmes during a very dire predicament as he faces against the show's villains, Culverton Smith, played by Toby Jones, and Jim Moriarty, played by Andrew Scott. Adler and Holmes first met in "Sherlock" season 2 episode 1 titled "A Scandal in Belgravia."

"Sherlock" season 4 episode 1 airs on New Year's Day, Jan. 1, 2017 on BBC.