The ABC series Lost has definitely seen a decline in ratings over the course of its five year run but the show is still a very profitable show for both the network and its parent company, Disney. Next Wednesday is the special two hour finale of season five and, as per usual, it’s anyone’s guess what new questions we’ll have by the end of the episode. The series certainly has a reputation for having some crazy cliffhangers.

Series star Michael Emerson told E!, “Ours is a show that specializes in big shock endings, but I think season five… None of the other shock endings left me wondering how the show goes on. We have two kinds of huge shocks at the end of this one. Each one alone would be enough to keep an audience eating its own soul for the whole hiatus, but with two, I don’t know what you can do with that.”

ABC has already renewed Lost for a sixth season and, based on a previous agreement, will consist of 17 episodes. Unlike many shows on the air, we don’t have to wonder if Lost will have a proper finale. It’s expected that the final installments will begin airing in early 2010 with the saga concluding during the May sweeps.

But, with all of the show’s ongoing mysteries, is it really possible to resolve them all by the end of the last episode? Or, will the producers need more time? Could there be a movie? Possibly, but it might not be one you’d want to see.

Executive producer Carlton Cuse recently sat down with MediaWeek to set the record straight.

Image courtesy ABC.