Though AMC president Joel Stillerman indicated that Mad Men would be returning for a fifth season, the show’s no closer to being produced. AMC is still negotiating with both show creator Matthew Weiner and Lionsgate (who produces the show). Fortunately, Weiner is “not looking for a new job” and is “dying to go back to work.”

Weiner recently told EW, “I have every intention of making the show when [AMC execs] decide to work out their business with Lionsgate. I can’t wait to come back to work. I have said over and over in public that I want the show to go on and on and on until it has worn out its welcome with viewers and we can’t think of anything more for the characters to do.”

“But the truth is I don’t even know what their plans are. We have not started writing. I am not back at work. My contract expired. They are fighting over a very lucrative property, and who is going to pay for it to get made; it’s one of the biggest perils of success — everyone wants a piece of it now and they are fighting over who is gonna get the biggest chunk. Then they will come to me because talent is last. It would be heartbreaking for me if they don’t work it out, horrifying really. It would be a shame for fans to never get to see what great stuff we have planned for Don and company.”

New seasons of Mad Men have typically kicked off in mid-Summer but with these ongoing negotiations, it’s looking very doubtful that we’ll be seeing John Hamm and the rest of the cast back onscreen for quite awhile.

What do you think? Are you upset that negotiations are holding up the return of Mad Men?

Image courtesy AMC.