Last May, ABC and the executive producers of Lost came to an agreement about when the hit series will come to an end. They decided will be three more seasons of 16 episodes each with the finale expected to air in May 2010. Once those 48 episodes are done, that’s it — no movies or sequels. With that firm finish in mind, the producers can figure out what’s next for the ever-dwindling group of plane crash survivors. One thing’s for sure, the writers know exactly how the series will end.

In recent interviews, the executive producers explained that they’ve always known how Lost will end, right down to the final shot. Co-creator and executive producer Damon Lindelof says, “We always knew the ending. We just didn’t know how much time to take before we got there. So, yes, it still completely fits with where we’re at in the storytelling right now. With 48 episodes to go, it’s exciting to be working towards an endpoint we’re already familiar with.”

Executive Producer Carlton Cuse says that the series will make use of both flashbacks and flash-forwards as the series progresses. But, he says, “it would be wrong to think that the flash-forward you saw [at the end of season three] is the end of the series.”

Cuse confirmed that he and Lindelof indeed have a final shot in mind. Though he wouldn’t give any clues about what it is, he would share what it’s not. “Yes, we do know what the last image of the show is, and it won’t be a black screen!” I’m guessing they won’t be ending it like this either. Stay tuned!