The alternate reality of The Framework presented the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. showrunner with nearly limitless storytelling options and they certainly didn't disappoint, delivering the best season yet of the MCU television spin-off. But the Matrix-like digital world was seemingly destroyed...or was it?
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, showrunner Jeff Bell carefully dissuaded the fan theory that The Framework would be rebooted in season 5. Said Bell, "Everything we do is based on not wanting to repeat our selves. We’re trying to tell different kinds of stories and show our characters in different situations. The last thing we want is for people to say, ‘Oh, they’re trotting that thing out again.’ If there were a way to tell a fresh story with something else to say, I think all storytelling is on the table."
However, Bell did add that there were some members of the AoS production team who indeed want to jump back into the simulated digital world and explore new avenues. "The Framework opened up a lot of ideas and a lot of possibilities, and our head of post keeps reminding us of that, because he’s the biggest fan of the Framework, and he thinks it should be its own spin-off show."
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 5 will not premiere until January 2018 as the Inhumans miniseries occupies the show's usual Fall premiere date and time slot.